Pain Pumps

After undergoing orthopedic surgery, you may have received a continuous infusion of local anesthetic into your shoulder from an infusion device to manage your pain. But perhaps instead of gradually improving in the months after surgery, you noticed persistent joint pain, stiffness and a loss of motion. Some patients, including healthy young adults, have experienced serious injury such as cartilage damage and destruction of cartilage after receiving prolonged infusions of painkiller from pain pumps. Patients who suffer injury from pain pumps can hold the manufacturers liable for their injury.

If you or a family member has suffered adverse health effects from a pain pump or elastomeric infusion pump, you should talk to a defective medical device lawyer at the law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney. I am attorney Philip DeBerard. I have more than three decades of experience helping Florida families overcome personal injuries caused by defective medical devices. Manufacturers have a legal obligation to make and sell safe products. Neither the doctor nor the hospital is likely to admit they used a defective medical device. To get an honest assessment, turn to an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer skilled at identifying defective medical products. The law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, focuses on helping victims of personal injuries, including those injured by defective medical products, in South Florida and the Treasure Coast.

Call (877) 536-1911 to speak with a pain pump injury attorney at the law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, or fill out our online contact form.

Why You Need an Experienced Florida Pain Pump Injury Lawyer

Pain pumps are small disposable plastic tubes that deliver a steady, measured flow of pain medicine, typically for 24 to 72 hours.  According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some patients who undergo joint surgery and receive continuous intra-articular infusions of anesthetic to control pain report symptoms of joint pain, stiffness and loss of motion within two to five months of the procedure. In dozens of cases, nearly all involving shoulder surgery, patients who used pain pumps developed chondrolysis, a serious condition involving destruction of cartilage and necrosis. Injured patients often require additional surgery including arthroscopy and joint replacement. Nearly all of the cases reported by the FDA involve patients who underwent shoulder surgery.

Federal drug regulators have made clear that elastomeric pain pumps were not approved or cleared by the FDA for continuous intra-articular infusion of local anesthetic after orthopedic surgery. Nor was the selection of drugs used in the pain pumps for infusion directly into the joint approved by the FDA. Because of the risk of serious injury to patients, the FDA in 2009 warned health care professionals not to use pain pumps for unapproved procedures.

Problems with pain pumps are not limited to a single manufacturer or type of elastomeric infusion device. The manufacturer of pain pumps most commonly mentioned in patient complaint reports was Stryker Corp., according to the FDA. Other companies mentioned were I-Flow and Breg, and the distributor Don Joy.

An injury from a pain pump may require you to undergo additional surgery, and you shouldn’t have to pay those medical bills yourself.

Contact a Florida Defective Medical Products Lawyer

If you or a family member has suffered cartilage damage or complications after surgery that involved a continuous infusion pain pump, contact a defective medical products lawyer at the law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney. I am attorney Philip DeBerard. My legal practice focuses exclusively on representing victims of serious injuries caused by the negligence of others, including manufacturers of defective medical products. I am one of the first attorneys in Florida to be board certified as a civil trial lawyer. My legal skill has received the highest AV preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the most recognized national legal directory.

I take pride in leading a team of hard-working attorneys, paralegals and staff who provide caring, one-on-one service to clients across South Florida and the Treasure Coast. We will evaluate your pain pump injury at no charge and explain your legal options. If we go to work for you, we will not charge any attorney fee unless we secure compensation for you. We represent victims of defective medical devices and medical malpractice in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and Vero Beach.

Call (877) 536-1911 to speak with a respected Florida medical products liability attorney, or fill out our online contact form.