Medtronic Infuse Bone Graft Lawsuits

Use of the Medtronic Infuse bone graft in the neck has been associated with a risk of serious complications. The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk are no longer investigating Medtronic Infuse Bone Graft Lawsuits.  The information on this page is provided for information purposes only.

The Medtronic Infuse Bone Graft has been widely used off-label during neck surgery, which has been associated with a high rate of serious and potentially fatal complications.

The Infuse bone graft lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are no longer investigating potential Medtronic lawsuits for individuals who have experienced problems after surgery on their cervical spine.

Medtronic has been accused of actively promoting and marketing the Infuse bone stimulator off-label for use in the cervical spine, or neck.  They have also failed to adequately warn about the risk of life-threatening complications.

Potential Medtronic Infuse bone graft lawsuits are being evaluated throughout the United States for problems associated with use during neck surgery.

MEDTRONIC INFUSE BONE STIMULATOR

The Medtronic Infuse bone graft is used to encourage bone growth and replace damaged spinal disks.  It is a man-made liquid bone graft that uses recombinant human Bone Morphogenetici Protein (rhBMP-2), which is designed to avoid the pain associated with harvesting bone from the hip.

The FDA approved the Infuse bone stimulator in 2002 for the limited use in the lumbar spine, or lower back, and for some oral and dental procedures.  However, as a result of aggressive marketing and promotion, which included encouraging physicians to use the bone graft off-label in the cervical spine, Medtronic has generated sales of over $3 billion from the Infuse bone graft.

Medtronic currently faces a probe by the U.S. Justice Department into their marketing and promotion of the device which allegedly violates federal law by encouraging unapproved uses, which Medtronic has not established as safe and effective.

MEDTRONIC BONE GRAFT PROBLEMS

The use of the Infuse bone growth stimulator in the cervical spine has been associated with a number of serious problems.  Given the proximity of the cervical spine to the airway, it has been associated with issues like:

• Difficulty Breathing, Swallowing or Speaking
• Compression of the Airway
• Respiratory Depression
• Nerve Damage
• Death

Most Medtronic Infuse bone graft problems occur within 2 to 14 days after surgery, as the neck swells, compressing the airway and nerves.  In addition to causing wrongful death, this could also result in the need for respiratory support, tracheotomies, insertion of feeding tubes, anti-inflammatory medications and additional surgery.