Panacryl Litigation at The Lanier Law Firm
Panacryl absorbable sutures were approved by the FDA in 1999 and marketed by Ethicon, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Panacryl sutures were used in wound healing after surgery, and touted for their strength and absorbability.
Ethicon voluntarily recalled Panacryl in 2006, citing that "the suture could act as a foreign body." The Panacryl recall included 1,061,712 sutures distributed worldwide.
Most Panacryl suture problems are related to their use in the soft tissue located in the lower abdominal area. Associated complications often require additional surgery to remove the sutures, and patients who undergo these additional surgeries could face recovery times as long as a year. In some cases, the Panacryl sutures remain unabsorbed in the patient for years before problems arise.
Dr. Joel Lippman, former Chief Medical Officer at Ethicon, claims he was fired in 2005 after objecting to the release of several unsafe products including Panacryl, which he says led to "numerous adverse events."
Common Problems Associated with Pancryl
The most common problems associated with Pancryl are:
Infection: Panacryl sutures are associated with increased rate of postoperative infection
Spitting Sutures: the body rejects the Panacryl sutures, forcing them to the surface of the skin
Tunneling: healthy tissue growth is inhibited by miniature tunnels around the incision marks left by Panacryl sutures
Granulomas: scar tissue buildup that develops into a bump underneath the skin have been associated with Panacryl sutures
Failed Absorption: the patient requires additional surgery to remove the Panacryl sutures
If you or a loved one has used Panacryl absorbable sutures and suffered side effects, please contact our office for a free evaluation.
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