Litigation over shoulder pain pumps that allegedly caused plaintiffs to suffer
PAGCL (Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis), a painful condition that destroys the cartilage around the shoulder, begin in February 2009. An estimated 75 cases await trial and others continue to be filed.
No MDL
A judge ruled that litigation over the pain pumps could not be consolidated under multi-district litigation (MDL), a procedure used by the federal court system to transfer all similarly situated pending civil cases in the U.S. to one federal judge in an attempt to save time and money, because the cases were not similar enough.
Pain pump manufacturers
There are several pain pump manufacturers who have been sued for allegedly failing to warn patients and doctors about the risks of inserting the pumps into the shoulder joint, failing to do enough research and for marketing the pumps to the medical community for off-label uses that were not approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
Pain pumps have been used to provide a constant source of relief to patients who have undergone arthroscopic shoulder surgery. However, many patients have developed the painful and irreversible condition known as PAGCL which destroyed the cartilage around their shoulder area. PAGCL is often accompanied by a decreased range of motion; clicking, grinding or popping of the shoulder; shoulder stiffness or weakness; constant shoulder pain and a narrowing of the joint space around the shoulder.
The four major manufacturers are Stryker Corporation (remember the television ads with pro-golfer Jack Nicklaus?), DJO Inc., I-Flow and BREG Inc.. Some have also sued Astrazeneca, the pharmaceutical company which sold anesthesia used in the pain pumps, for failing to test the safety of the drugs used in the pain pumps.
Have you been injured?
If you've been injured due to a pain pump, contact an experienced products liability attorney in pain pump litigation to discuss your situation and evaluate your options. Consultations with a lawyer are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential.
