The DePuy Pinnacle metal hip implant is the same monoblock type of implant as DePuy’s ASR however has a few key differences. Of course the primary difference is that the ASR was recalled in 2010 while the Pinnacle is still on the market. Because of the recall of the ASR—which gained FDA approval based on being substantially equivalent to the Pinnacle—there are serious concerns regarding the Pinnacle as well. The Pinnacle received FDA approval in 2000, howevermany orthopedic experts believe that not only does the Pinnacle suffer from a defective design; it also has a propensity for early failure rates and metal toxicity.

Of course nobody should drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the state of Texas—or anywhere else for that matter, however in many cases Houston drivers are unfairly charged with DUI and need an experienced lawyer who can ensure that their future is not altered forever. Should you find yourself arrested for suspicion of DUI you may wonder if it will help or hurt your future DUI case if you refuse the tests the officer asks you to take. While many states have no-refusal mandatory blood draw programs in place, Texas has not yet implemented this program therefore you still have the right to refuse a breathalyzer, blood test, and even field sobriety tests.

Although some states have recently legalized marijuana and others have reduced prison time for low-risk, non-violent drug offenders caught in possession of small amounts of marijuana, Texas still maintains very strict drug laws. In fact, legislation introduced last summer in an attempt to reduce the penalty for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor did not make it out of the committee. This legislation would have effectively reduced the punishment for possession of small amounts of marijuana from six months in jail and fines as high as $2,000 to a fine of up to $500.

It is believed that over 200,000 women receive mesh implants each year, however as the number of implants has continued to rise, so has the number of complications reported by recipients. In fact, some estimates place the number of women who have suffered complications from their vaginal mesh implant as high as ten percent. Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when one or more pelvic organs shifts downward, in some cases intruding into the vaginal canal. As many as 25% of all women in the United States suffer some degree of pelvic organ prolapse and as the Baby Boomers continue to age it is believed the number of pelvic organ prolapse surgeries will continue to rise.

Over sixty years ago, surgical mesh was routinely used during hernia repair surgeries. By the 1970’s American gynecologists saw the potential in using this same type of mesh to repair pelvic organ prolapse. Mesh was used in an “off-label” fashion by surgeons for decades during pelvic organ prolapse and by the mid-90’s it was becoming more and more common to use the same mesh used in hernia surgeries to treat SUI. Eventually, in 1996, the FDA approved surgical mesh specifically for use in stress urinary incontinence surgeries and in 2002 followed suit by approving surgical mesh specifically for the repair of pelvic organ prolapse. Over time surgical mesh has seen an evolution in the manner in which it is used as well as the various types of surgical mesh used.