Both doctors and patients fear medical procedures that result in far more harm than good. Such is the case with a number of shoulder surgeries since 2005. After these procedures, patients treated with an intra-articular infusion of anesthetics through a shoulder pain pump began developing Chondrolysis, a rapid decay of cartilage resulting in an extremely painful form of shoulder arthritis. A number of lawsuits have resulted.
Intra-Articular Injection
The anesthetic infusions of Marcaine or lidocaine were given as an alternative to single injections of the same medications. These pain pumps allow doctors to give a measured dose over a period of 48 to 72 hours.
While delivery of the anesthetic through intra-articular injections has been approved, infusions have not. It appears joint damage was limited only to the unapproved use.
The FDA’s 2009 report reviewed 35 cases of post surgery Chondrolysis. Some symptoms appeared only two months after post-op treatment. These included “joint pain, stiffness, and loss of motion.” As a result, many patients had to undergo joint replacements.
Because of the nature of the surgery, many of the victims of the infusion related Chondrolysis are young, healthy athletes.
Legal Action Against Manufacturers
Since 2005 hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against pain pump manufacturers. These include Breg, Inc., Sorenson Medical Products and I-Flow Corp. While some of these cases have been settled out of court, many have been dismissed on various legal grounds. This is probably the result of expert legal representation and the lack of research on pain pump related Chondrolysis.
Yet, some have won very large verdicts. An Oregon man was awarded $5.5 million from I-Flow Corp for damage to his shoulder cartilage. The patient, Matthew Beale, had arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear in his bicep. Post-Op pain pump infusion resulted in a loss of all cartilage in his shoulder joint. [source: http://alice.euroinvestor.fr/news/story.aspx?id=10975892&bw=20100401006734]
I-Flow has since lost a motion for a retrial. The precedence may help current and future cases succeed in court.
Victims of Shoulder Pain Pump Related Chondrolysis
Patients who believe they may be suffering problems due to an anesthetic infusion should contact their doctor. There are a number of therapeutic measures which can be taken to improve mobility and reduce pain.
If this problem is the result of medical negligence on the part of a pain pump manufacturer, victims should seek a qualified attorney.