Parilman & Associates – InFuse Bone Graft Injury Lawyers
One of the worst places on the body to experience complications is in or around the spinal cord. These medical problems can cause immense amounts of pain, struggle and general frustration as people are forced to live with chronic pain and deal with problems relating to mobility and general freedom. There are many different types of spinal cord problems that can arise, and many of them involve the bone structure that is supposed to protect the center of the central nervous system. Given the advances in medical technology, companies have been able to come up with products that help people deal with these difficulties.
One such company is known as Medtronic, Inc. Medtronic released a product known as the InFuse bone graft, and it was originally approved for use by the FDA for a surgical procedure known as anterior approach lumbar fusion. This surgery basically focuses on the lower portion of the spinal cord, and it is meant to provide patients with a synthetic bone structure that helps to strengthen that area, to correct the structural problems that arise and to provide patients with an improved level of overall comfort. Unfortunately, the product seems to have worked so well that some decided to try to expand its use.
When companies and/or people decide to use a product for a purpose other than what it was originally approved for, that is known as off-label use. Off-label use of medical products and medications is considered illegal and it can most definitely give rise to more than one type of legal liability. The InFuse bone graft product was used for several different forms of spinal cord surgery, and this is what led to problems along with reports of serious InFuse side effects.
Examples of these alleged InFuse side effects include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty speaking
- Uncontrolled bone growth at the surgery site
- Radiating pain in the legs and/or arms
- Sterility in males
- Acute swelling in the neck in the days following the surgical implant
Each of these alleged InFuse side effects is serious in nature, but perhaps the most troubling allegation was that use of the InFuse bone graft product was linked to several different forms of cancer, including:
- Stomach
- Skin
- Breast
- Thyroid
- Ovarian
- Lung
- Prostate
- Pancreatic
At this point, there have been several InFuse bone graft lawsuits filed in the United States against MedTronic, Inc. and the allegations contained in these lawsuits generally involve the accusation that MedTronic knew about the potential for this product to be used for off-label purposes and that it knew that this product could lead to several different and severe side effects.
If you have used this product and you are experiencing any unexplained health problems, you need to make sure to obtain a full medical evaluation as soon as possible. Especially when it comes to cancer, early detection can make all of the difference in the world. If you have been harmed in this manner, contact the InFuse bone graft injury lawyers at Parilman & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation, 602-757-7175.
