Man Files Suit For Injuries Caused By Pain Pump Implant

A man has filed suit against the manufacturers of a pain pump that was implanted in his shoulder after he discovered personal injuries in the form of severe cartilage damage.

On March 1, Wesley Young filed suit in the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division, naming Breg Inc. as a defendant.

The suit says that on December 20, 2005, Young underwent a surgical procedure on his right shoulder and a pain pump designed, manufactured, and sold by Breg implanted into his shoulder.

The pain pump is designed to inject pain relief medication through a catheter directly into his shoulder joint on a continuous basis for up to 48 hours after the surgery. It is designed for use with common anesthetics such as lidocaine or Marcaine.

Young claims the drugs caused permanent damage to the cartilage in his shoulder. He specifically says the pain pump results in a chondrolysis, which is a narrowing of the joint space with a complete loss of cartilage in the joint.

According to Young, neither he nor his surgeon was aware of the risks and dangers associated with the pain pump. He further argues that the Food and Drug Administration has specifically prohibited the marketing of pain pumps with anesthetics for placement into the joint cavity.

The suit alleges that the defendants are liable for fraudulent concealment, strict liability, negligence, and breach of warranty.