Infuse Bone Graft
Important Information for Spine Surgery Patients
Medtronic Inc.’s Infuse Bone Graft is a medical product used as a bone graft substitute in spinal fusions, and other surgeries including oral maxillofacial and dental regenerative bone grafting procedures. The Infuse Bone Graft contains BMP-2 (recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2) The purpose of the product, is to stimulate and encourage bone growth and in the case of spinal fusion surgery, to repair deteriorated spinal discs.
The Infuse Bone Graft was approved in 2002 for use in the lower lumbar spine and has also been used in the cervical spine.
The Infuse Bone Graft has been associated with problems such as radiating leg and back pain, nerve damage and even death. The bone may break up (this may be described as Osteolysis or Subsidence). Other complications being investigated include unwanted bone growth and infertility in men and, in the case of neck operations, difficulty breathing, swallowing and speaking and neck swelling.
There are on-going investigations into whether Medtronic adequately disclosed the significant health risks associated with Infuse. Serious questions were raised in June 2011 by a series of articles in The Spine Journal.
Stevensons LLP is presently investigating claims from people who have had the Infuse Bone Graft product implanted. Stevensons LLP is an established class action law firm currently active in class actions involving medical products such as DePuy hip implants and Kugel Mesh (hernia repair) and drugs such as Vioxx and Zyprexa.
If you have had spinal surgery or oral maxillofacial / dental surgery requiring a bone graft or bone graft substitute, and think you may have been implanted with the Infuse product, please contact Margaret at mlover@stevensonlaw.net or 416-599-7900 ext. 843.