Among all the injuries in the United States, hip fractures are some of the most common. The elderly are more predisposed to hip fracture injuries, especially if they have co-morbid conditions such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. Although there are some types of hip fractures more likely to undergo total hip replacements over others, the choice of surgical intervention is based on the patient’s age, the location of the fracture, and the surgeon’s assessment. Patients that need total hip replacement surgery should understand the risks associated with the procedure and with the types of devices that are utilized. Recent reports have indicated serious problems with the Pinnacle hip replacement causing DePuy Pinnacle lawsuits.

There are three classifications of hip fractures that are identified according to their locations: femoral neck fractures, intertrochanteric fractures, and subtrochanteric fractures. Femoral neck fractures are identified in the region of the femur between the femoral head proximally and the greater and lesser trochanters distally. This category of fracture is considered intracapsular, meaning it occurs within the hip joint and beneath the fibrous joint capsule. Intertrochanteric fractures occur between the greater and lesser trochanter structures in the femur. In contrast to femoral neck fractures, intertrochanteric fractures are extracapsular and occur outside the hip joint’s fibrous capsule. Subtrochanteric fractures are located between the lesser trochanter and the femoral isthmus in the proximal part of the femoral shaft. Subtrochanteric fractures are less common, less stable, and more difficult to correct in comparison with femoral neck and intertrochanteric fractures.

Although all three types require surgical intervention, all three do not require a total hip replacement. Femoral neck fractures are more likely to be corrected with a total hip replacement. Total hip replacement surgery is only indicated with intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures if severe complications (e.g., nonunion, secondary displacement, avascular necrosis), should cause the initial surgery to fail.

Accounting for 45-53% of all hip fractures, femoral neck fractures are the most common location for a hip fracture. Total hip replacement in these types of fractures is performed on a younger, more active patient or one with preexisting arthritis. DePuy Orthopaedics introduced metal-on-metal hip replacement devices onto the market for younger patients wanting to maintain an active lifestyle after surgery. Over 1,300 complaints have currently been received by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning the Pinnacle device, with a significant number of these complaints focused on the device loosening from the bone, causing device failure and numerous DePuy Pinnacle lawsuits.

DePuy has budgeted almost $1 billion in the past for patients being harmed by their defective devices. If you are suffering from pain caused by DePuy’s Pinnacle device, fight for the compensation you deserve and go to the DePuy Pinnacle Lawsuit website to have your case evaluated for free.