Osteoporosis is a condition that affects 10 million folks in the United States and is characterized by a decrease in bone strength due to a loss of bone density, which results in fragile bones. Patients that have osteoporosis have a greater risk for fracturing their hips from falling accidents. Subsequently, these patients are perfect candidates for a total hip replacement system and might be affected by a DePuy Pinnacle recall if they obtain a defective Pinnacle device. Even so,
recipients may not possibly be conscious of the Pinnacle device risks.
Both men and women will normally lose 0.3% to 0.5% of their bone density per year after the age of 35 as part of the normal aging process. An accelerated loss of bone density that causes osteoporosis can be due to other risk factors and conditions. Although both men and women are susceptible to osteoporosis due to a decrease of sex hormones from aging, estrogen plays a stronger role in maintaining bone density in women.
With the dramatic decrease of estrogen production in the first five to ten years after menopause, women cause lose up to 25%-30% of their bone density within that time period. The major cause of osteoporosis in women is due to accelerated bone loss after menopause and is labeled postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Elderly patients become a greater risk for osteoporosis not only from aging, but also due to their lifestyle, diet deficiencies, and certain medications. Osteoporosis can be caused by excessive alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, sedentary lifestyles, deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D, immobility after a stroke, chronic inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic use of medications such as blood thinners and oral corticosteroids used for inflammation.
Elderly patients with osteoporosis are also at a much higher risk for developing hip fractures due to falls. Accounting for 45-53% of all hip fractures, femoral neck fractures are the most common location for a hip fracture. Femoral neck fractures are very painful and are more likely to require total hip replacement.
Hip replacement is strongly considered after patients experience such severe pain as to interrupt normal function despite medical intervention with anti-inflammatory and/or pain medications. Patients requiring total hip replacement should know the risks associated with the procedure and with the types of devices that are used. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has currently received over 1,300 complaints associated with the Pinnacle hip replacement with the majority of these focusing on the premature loosening of the device from the bone, which leads to device failure and a possible DePuy Pinnacle recall.
DePuy has set aside as much as $1 billion in the past for those who have been harmed by defective devices. To find out if you could get compensated for your injuries, visit the
