For a long time, the four manufacturers of hip and joint replacements that controlled 75% of the market were laughing all the way to the bank. These four companies – Stryker, Biomet, Du Puy and Zimmer – have been beneficiaries of a dysfunctional health care “system” that has no financial interest in healing patients.
Stryker Hip Replacement Lawyer
Submitted by Fred Levin on
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Metallosis Injuries |
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Removed Hip Implants |
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with Mike Papantonio |
Stryker Hip Recall
If you or a loved one have been notified that you have a recalled Stryker Rejuvenate or ABG II modular neck stem hip implant, you should consult with an attorney immediately to understand your legal rights. The Stryker Orthopaedics Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular Hip System Implants were recalled in the United States on July 6, 2012. Stryker has voluntarily recalled its “Rejuvenate” and “ABG II” modular-neck stems. If you have a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABG II model hip implant, you should also consult your orthopaedic surgeon regarding whether a revision surgery may be needed, or to determine if you have had any of the following complications associated with the recalled Stryker products:
- Fretting (wear)/ corrosion at the modular neck junction, which could possibly lead to Osteolysis (bone dissolution)
- Joint loosening or dislocation
- Release of metal ions leading to metallosis; tissue inflammation; necrosis (tissue death); and/or pain
- Hypersensitivity or allergic response, caused by metal debris
- Broken device
The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II products were implanted from 2009 to 2012; however, Stryker did have other models on the market during that time, so it is important to ask your doctor, or obtain your medical records (operative report and/or implant stickers) to get proof that you were implanted with a recalled hip.
The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II hip systems differ from other hip implants in that they are comprised of more components. The issue occurs when force created by body movement creates stress at the femoral neck junction, leading to fretting, or wear, as well as generating heavy metal debris.
From the Stryker website: “While modular neck hip stems provide surgeons with an option to correct certain aspects of a patient’s anatomy and hip biomechanics, we decided to voluntarily recall these modular-neck stem hip systems because there is a potential for fretting and corrosion at the modular neck junction which may lead to adverse local tissue reactions. Following this action we will work with the medical community to better understand this matter.”
In The News
A state Supreme Court in New Jersey, has consolidated forty current lawsuits and twelve pending actions against Howmedica Osteonics – the division of Stryker Medical that brought you the modular stem hip replacements that have been implicated in metallosis. The cases will now be heard in the Bergen County Superior Court, the Honorable Judge Brian R. Martinotti presiding.
The first conference is scheduled for 20 February.
When Stryker Orthopaedics introduced its innovative Rejuvenate & ABG II Modular-Neck Hip Stems back in 2010, it was hailed as the greatest invention since the artificial hip implant. Two years later, the company issued a voluntary recall, and the product is now at the center of growing litigation.
Recently, we discussed product liability for medical device manufacturers and medical malpractice on the part of physicians – and how in some cases, determining responsibility for a plaintiff's injury is not always simple.
If you have been prescribed a dangerous drug or received a defective medical device – such as a hip or joint implant or a pelvic mesh, both of which have been demonstrated to cause serious health problems – you understand that you have a right to sue the manufacturer for damages.
