Osteoarthritis currently affects over 20 million people in the United States. This condition is a type of degenerative arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage in one or more joints. Osteoarthritis is also the most common type of arthritis that leads to total hip replacement. Osteoarthritis patients that have received a defective DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement should avoid a possible statute of limitations and pursue a DePuy Pinnacle lawsuit as soon as possible.

The most commonly parts of the body affected by osteoarthritis include the hands, feet, spine, and large weight bearing joint such as the hips and knees. The two classifications of osteoarthritis are primary and secondary. Primary osteoarthritis makes up the majority of cases and has no known cause. When the cause of the osteoarthritis is attributed to another disease pathology, it is referred to as secondary osteoarthritis.

The main cause of primary osteoarthritis is aging and occurs more frequently in elderly patients. Water content in cartilage increases with aging, causing the degeneration of the protein makeup of the cartilage. As a result, the cartilage between the bones and joints is lost, causing friction between the bones, which leads to pain and limitation of joint mobility. Joint pain and swelling can also be caused by repetitive use of worn joints, which irritate and inflame the cartilage.

Secondary osteoarthritis is caused by an underlying disease or condition, which include obesity, repeated trauma, surgery to joint structures, congenital abnormalities, gout, diabetes, and other hormone disorders. Apart from aging, obesity is the most powerful condition leading to osteoarthritis in weight bearing joints. Obesity causes osteoarthritis by increasing the mechanical stress on the cartilage.

Total hip replacements are recommended in patients with osteoarthritis when there is progressively intense chronic pain and impairment of daily activities, which include walking, climbing stairs, and even rising from a sitting position. Hip replacement is strongly considered after patients experience such severe pain as to interrupt normal function despite medical intervention with anti-inflammatory and/or pain medications. Patients that are undergoing total hip replacement should know the risks regarding the procedure and the types of devices that are being used. Out of the 1,300 complaints currently received by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the Pinnacle hip replacement, the majority of these focused on the premature loosening of the device from the hip bone, leading to failure of the device and multiple DePuy Pinnacle lawsuits.

DePuy has set aside as much as $1 billion in the past for those who have been harmed by defective devices. If you believe you are entitled to proper compensation because your quality of life has been affected, go to the DePuy Pinnacle Lawsuit website now to have your case evaluated by an experienced attorney free of charge.