Due to the high number of lawsuits involving shoulder pain pumps across the U.S., motions have been filed to bring all cases forward in one court. Personal injury attorneys are still accepting legal cases relating to shoulder pain pumps that may cause Post arthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis or PALG.

PAGCL is characterized by cartilage loss and debilitating shoulder pain. PAGCL is a progressive condition that may not be evident for 12 months following the use of the pain pump. As Laura B Kalur, Attorney at Law, of Portland, Oregon explains, “The pain pump was not approved by the FDA for use intra-articularly (inside the shoulder space). In fact, it was denied approval by the FDA for that specific use through the 510(k) process as early as 1998. However, orthopedic surgeons using the pain pumps were not informed by the pain pump manufacturers of the FDA’s specific denial. Failure to warn the doctors and ultimately the patients exposed to the pain pump has resulted in crippling severe arthritic disease called ‘chondrolysis’ for many shoulder surgery patients.”

The Pain Pump Personal Injury

Pain pumps are often used in many types of surgery today. Pain pumps deliver medication directly to the location of surgery to relieve pain. As Angel Reyes of Dallas, Texas explains, “The pain pump appeared to be attractive with the advantage of no gastric indigestion or mental acuity issues when compared to post operative pain medication. However, the pre and post operative photos are clear. Pre-operative photos demonstrate cartilage presence. Many post operative photos show no cartilage. The only recourse many victims have is to proceed with shoulder replacement surgery which lasts for ten or more years.”

Manufacturer Outlook

A number of manufacturers sold shoulder pain pumps to doctors with the alleged impression that they are suitable for intra-articular use following arthroscopic shoulder surgery. However, a study published in the July 2007 issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine (AJSM) demonstrated a link between shoulder pain pump use and PAGCL. PAGCL may create a host of disabilities and the physical disabilities may be far greater than the disability that the patient had contended with prior to surgery. PAGCL symptoms include: at rest shoulder pain, motion shoulder pain, compromised range of motion as well as shoulder clicking, popping, grinding, stiffness, weakness and arthritic conditions of crippling severity.

Partial List of Pain Pumps with Associated Problems

• Stryker®
• Stryker® PainPump 1®
• Stryker® PainPump 2®
• PainPump® Blockaid®
• I-Flow®
• On-Q® Painbuster®
• Donjoy®
• Donjoy® Pain Control Device
• Accufuser® Plus Pain Pump

Evaluating Shoulder Pain Pump Disability

As Meryl Viener, Attorney at Law suggests, “If the recuperation process from shoulder surgery is not going as expected, it is important to obtain a second opinion from another doctor. Also, be aware that your surgeon may be unfamiliar with the issues surrounding the pain pump.” Personal injury attorneys dedicate an extensive amount of time to research about the effects of shoulder pain pump injuries. They also investigate the circumstances surrounding victims that have Post arthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis or PAGCL as a result of shoulder surgery. Shoulder pain pump injury disabilities are evaluated through many methods. Compensation for injury from shoulder pain pumps may consider many factors, including: a rating of permanent disability that coverts into a financial compensation amount, the possible requirement of vocational assistance for job replacement, the effect of the disability on daily life activities and the effect of the disability on other family members.