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Recent Blog Posts in February 2011 |
| February 28, 2011 |
| Long-Term Fosamax Use More Than Doubles the Risk of Femur Fractures Among Older Women |
| Posted By DeCarli Law |
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An article in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that long-term use of Fosamax and other bisphosphonate drugs by older women more than doubles their chance of suffering
femur fractures. This side effect is particularly disturbing in light of the fact that
Fosamax and similar drugs are prescribed to strengthen the bones of women with osteoporosis.
The article summarizes a study of Canadian women aged 68 years and older who had taken oral bisphosphonates like Fosamax for five years or more. The study found that women who had taken
Fosamax and related drugs for five years or longer were 2.74 times more likely to suffer a
femur fracture than women who had taken the drug for only 100 days or less. In fact, the study concluded that more than half of the
femur fractures among women who had taken bisphosphonates for five years or more were attributable to their use of bisphosphonates.
The article, titled “Bisphosphonate Use and the Risk of Subtrochanteric or Femoral Shaft Fractures in Older Women,” appears in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. A complete copy of the article can be found HERE
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If you or a family member has suffered a femur fracture after taking
Fosamax or other bisphosphonate for more than five years, you or your family member may have a legal claim for your injury against the drug manufacturer. You may email or call DeCarli Law for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys to learn more about your legal rights.
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| February 11, 2011 |
| Recall of Nexgen Complete Knee Solution Knee Replacement Components |
| Posted By DeCarli Law |
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Zimmer Inc. has initiated a Class 2 recall of the Nexgen Complete Knee Solution MIS tibial components, locking screw and stem extensions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a notice regarding the recall on September 13, 2010. The FDA Notice may be found HERE, which lists the specific codes for the recalled devices.
As of the date of the notice, there had been 114 reports filed with the FDA reporting that the device loosened, requiring patients to undergo surgery to replace the device. Immediately after the recall, Zimmer sent an “URGENT DEVICE CORRECTION” letter to orthopedic surgeons who had used the device. Zimmer warned surgeons to destroy or disregard all previous versions of the surgical technique and to review and familiarize themselves with the revised technique in light of the recall.
If you or a loved one underwent knee replacement surgery in which a Nexgen device was used, you ultimately may need to undergo surgery to replace the defective Nexgen device. Symptoms that may indicate a failure of the device include knee and joint pain, difficulty standing or walking, decreased range of motion, and soreness or stiffness.
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| February 03, 2011 |
| More Information on Association Between Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) and Breast Implants |
| Posted By DeCarli Law |
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More information is available on the link between Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) and breast implants. As noted in an earlier blog post, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced last week the
link between ALCL and breast implants.
It is important to note that ALCL is not breast cancer. ALCL is a type of lymphoma, a cancer of the cells of the immune system. In the cases where women with breast implants developed ALCL, ALCL was not found in the breast tissue itself, but in the fibrous scar capsule surrounding the implant. Over time, a fibrous scar tissue called a capsule develops around a breast implant, separating the implant from the rest of the breast. The ALCL is found within this fibrous capsule.
ALCL has been diagnosed most frequently in women undergoing implant revision operations for late onset, persistent seroma (collection of fluid). Most patients are diagnosed when they seek medical treatment for implant related symptoms such as pain, lumps, swelling, or asymmetry that developed long after their initial surgical sites were fully healed. These symptoms were due to persistent seroma, hardening of breast area around the implant (capsular contraction), or masses surrounding the breast implant.
Importantly, the FDA is NOT recommending prophylactic breast implant removal in patients without symptoms or other abnormalities. However, the risk of ALCL should be considered by any woman considering whether to undergo breast implant surgery.
The FDA is requesting that healthcare professionals and patients report any confirmed cases of ALCL in women with breast implants. You may report a confirmed case to the FDA online HERE.
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