Stryker Hip Implant Lawsuit

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Stryker hip implants manufacturer has issued product recalls due to severe patient injuries, side effects, and general problems. Even though the company is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of medical devices and orthopedic tools, on July 6, 2012, they had to recall two of their artificial hip implant systems:

• Rejuvenate Modular
• ABG II Modular-Neck Hip Stems

Why Did This Stryker Hip Implant Recall Occur?

Stryker’s Vice President and General Manager of hip reconstruction, Stuart Simpson, stated that after Stryker Corp. recalled all of their defective hip implants, they would work with the medical community to assess the situation and evaluate the data.

The source of the problems was metallic debris falling into their bodies. This was happening because of the chromium and cobalt, which made up the neck components of the implants and the stems, which were coated with titanium. When these two parts of the device started to wear against each other, the aforementioned metallic debris was produced.

Stryker later released an Urgent Field Safety Notice, right before the recall was employed, which warned people of the potential hazards:

• Fretting and corrosion in and around the modular neck junction could potentially release excessive metal debris into the surrounding tissue.
• Metal ions located in these surrounding tissues could result in inflammation, which could possibly lead to an immunological response, including metallosis (poisoning from metal), necrosis (bone and tissue death), and pain, which all required hip revision surgery.
• Excessive metal debris in the space where the join is could potentially lead to osteolysis (bone loss), which can also lead to the requirement of a hip revision surgery.

Aside from this safety notice by Stryker Corp, studies suggest links between the absorbed metal ions and neurological and heart problems, as well as damage to the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and kidneys. The toxicity of cobalt is extremely high.

Stryker Hip Implant Lawsuits

The problems caused by Stryker Orthopedics and their Rejuvenate Modular Hip System resulted in a lot of lawsuits. People were having all kinds of problems with this defective product, and they were right to seek justice.

Most lawsuits against Stryker Corp. focus on the negligence of the company and their failure to warn the consumers of the high rate of failure of their hip implant system.

Another bad movement on Stryker Corp’s part was the fact that they claimed that the titanium and cobalt chrome neck and stem in their hip implant system were resistant to fretting and corroding. In reality, this statement was proved to be wrong.

Compensation From Stryker Hip Implant Cases

If you have suffered at the hands of Stryker’s hip implant system, and you filed for a lawsuit against the company, you can seek recovery four the following damages:

• Medical Expenses – visits with the doctor, medications, hip revision surgeries, new hip replacements, and everything else medical, which cost you money because of the faulty hip implant.
• Pain and Suffering – Physical, as well as mental and emotional, suffering are factors that entitle you for reimbursement from the responsible party.
• Loss of Consortium – if you lost a partner or a spouse because of the problems caused by the defective hip implant, you might get reimbursement for that as well.
• Punitive Damages – Awards to prevent similar negligence in the future.
• Other Compensations – These include home health care, caregiver costs, lost income and possible lost future income.

Stryker Corp has already estimated that these hip implant recalls and lawsuits could potentially cost them more than $1 billion.

Potential Problems With The Recalled Stryker Hip Implants

Right after the Stryker hip implant recall happened in July 2012, the FDA announced that Stryker Orthopedics, makers of the Rejuvenate Modular Hip System ®, including the Rejuvenate Modular ® and ABG-II ® Modular hip stem, had voluntarily stopped marketing and recalled this product line due to ongoing reports of severe product defects.

The following problems have been reported due to these defects:

• A removal of tissue or revision of the original implanted hip
• Pseudo-tumors
• Loosening of the implant
• Dislocation
• High levels of cobalt, chromium, titanium or any other metals in your bloodstream
• Significant residual pain
• Significantly impaired mobility
• Significant swelling

Other problems, which arose because of the contact between metal ions and the surrounding sells, include:

• Metallosis – metal poisoning from the metal components, which grind into each other.
• Necrosis – premature tissue death.
• Osteolysis – bone dissolution.
• Pain – which gets to a point where a hip revision surgery is required

All of these problems were experienced by people who used Stryker’s hip implant system. They also resulted in a lot of hip replacement lawsuits.

By law, a medical manufacturer is responsible for the design of a completely safe product. They are also obligated to warn their future consumers of possible side effects in order to prevent any.

Failure to comply with these laws allows people who got hurt to sue the manufacturer. Most of the lawsuits, which were filed against Stryker and their defective hip implant system, directly accused the company of negligence.

Stryker Hip Implant Lawyers

If you have had a Stryker hip implant procedure, or have been advised that a replacement is needed, please contact us now.

We are currently investigating cases involving Stryker and all metal-on-metal hip implants. If you are experiencing symptoms from a metal-on-metal hip implant, regardless of manufacturer, please contact us today. The manufacturers can be held liable, and you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against them.

If your specific case is Stryker Corp related, and you are having complications because of their faulty Rejuvenate or ABG II hip implants, you should consider hiring a lawyer immediately.

You don’t have to suffer any medical and financial problems alone when someone else is responsible for it.

The professional product liability lawyers at The Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A. have an amazing track record dealing with Stryker hip implant lawsuits.

Get your questions answered - call us for your FREE consultation at 800-835-5762 & 954-456-2488