Stryker Hip Implant Lawsuit – We Are Ready to Help You
Hello, I am Ed Smith, a Metal-on-Metal (MoM) hip replacement lawyer in Sacramento, California. I know that when a client is hurt by hip replacement surgery using faulty hip implants, the client wants information. There are five major hip replacement manufacturers. Stryker Corp is one of them. Let’s take a closer look at Stryker and the problems associated with its hip implants.
Who Is Stryker?
Stryker Corp. is a Michigan-based manufacturer of joint implants, including those for hips and knees. It’s market share for orthopedic devices was $4.2 billion in the fiscal year 2015. Of the 57,000 products, it produces, it makes modular-designed hip implant devices that, according to the company, give surgeons greater flexibility in terms of selecting the best stem and neck choices for a patient.
Stryker’s Hip Implants
Stryker’s hip implants with interchangeable stem and neck design are:
- Rejuvenate
- ABG II
- TMZF
The components are made from a blended titanium alloy, mixing zirconium, iron, molybdenum and titanium. According to Stryker, this mixture would prevent metal flaking and corrosion and resembles normal bone. Despite Stryker’s assurances, surveillance after the devices were marketed showed evidence of metal flaking and corrosion. Two of the devices were recalled, the ABG II and Rejuvenate models.
What Happened?
Stryker’s implants differ from other implants. Nonetheless, their metal junction still results in metal particles being released into the surrounding tissues and ultimately the blood stream. Responding to this complication, Stryker sent an urgent notice to surgeons in 2012 noting the release of metal particles on two systems with their proprietary modular neck articulation design. Despite this warning, patients were already suffering the complications inherent in metal poisoning or metallosis. Three months after the safety warning was sent, the two devices were recalled.
Hip Implant Revision Surgery for Stryker’s ABG II and Rejuvenate
Revision surgery for these models was different than others. Because the stem of the device is embedded into the femur of the patient, surgery is not only difficult but may result in a fracture of this long bone in the leg. If a fracture occurs, as it has in some individuals, the patient’s femur would require reconstruction. This adds considerably to the patient’s pain. The cost of additional surgeries adds to the cost of hip implant surgery, which is already in the neighborhood of $200,000.
Canada Recalls
IN 2015 and 2016, Health Canada recalled two other Stryker devices:
- LFIT Cobalt-chromium v40 Femoral Head
- LFIT Anatomic COCR V40TM Femoral heads
The first recall listed above was because the head portion in this apparatus would not fit the V40 stem. The second was due to failure of its taper lock.
Lawsuits
Stryker like any other medical device manufacturer is obligated to make sure the device is safe and to alert patients and doctors quickly if a problem is noted. If this does not occur, the company can be found liable for the harm the device did to the patient. Compensation might include the cost of all surgeries, including revision and other subsequent surgeries, hospital expenses, lost wages and the pain and suffering this caused.
Stryker was negligent in that it did not adequately test the devices and therefore did not notify doctors of the damage the devices might cause. In 2013, Stryker paid an undisclosed amount in four lawsuits. In 2014, it paid $1.43 billion for 1,000s of additional claims.
Related Articles by Ed Smith:
Sacramento Hip Implant Attorney
I am Ed Smith, a Sacramento hip implant surgery attorney. If you or someone in your family has suffered problems associated with Stryker implants, please contact me for free and friendly advice. I can be reached at (916) 921-6400 or toll free at (800) 404-5400.
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