Stryker has recently issued a voluntary recall of one of its metal hip implant lines which has been linked to numerous complications.

The hip recall by Stryker primarily revolves around its LFIT Anatomic metal hip implant, and its Cobalt or Chromium V40 Femoral Heads.

It is important to note that it is not the first voluntary hip recall by Stryker. The company recalled the Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular hip implants in 2012.

Patients in this recent LFIT hip recall by Stryker complained of one or more of the following complications:

• Disassociation of the femoral head from hip stem
• Fractured hip stem
• Excessive metal debris in blood stream
• Limited motion
• Soft tissue tension
• Noise from implant
• Excessive wear
• The need for revision surgery

The recall was purportedly made after numerous patients complained of corrosion and fretting, due to the metal hip implant components interacting. Similar to the other metal hip implants problems, patients experienced complications associated with metallosis due to the metal ions being shed into their skin.

Problems With Stryker Metal Hip Implants

Metallosis is a rare condition specifically caused by blood metal poisoning due to the buildup of metallic debris in the soft tissue of the body.

In cases of metal on metal hip implants, the metal ions build up in the hip joint and can cause gray discoloration of the tissue surrounding the metal hip implant. The discoloration of the tissue often indicates that the tissue is deprived of oxygen and dying.

Cobalt and chromium metal ions have been linked to severe toxic reactions in patients, which are the primary metals found in metal on metal hip implants. When metal hip implants were first approved to go to market, many expected them to be overtly superior to the plastic or ceramic models previously available.

In addition, all metal hip implants were advertised to be more durable and longer lasting than other options for prosthetic patients. Since the concern of metallosis has become widely associated with metal hip implants, concern spread to different manufacturing companies and the medical community.

According to a July 2012 study published in Orthopedics, 95% of patients with failed metal on metal hip replacements had to undergo revision surgery within the first three years of getting the initial implant.

Hip Recall by Stryker

The new hip recall by Stryker addresses similar problems with the LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 femoral heads, which have already been implicated in several product liability lawsuits. Plaintiffs alleged that these metal hip implants caused them to experience blood metal poisoning, which in turn caused tissue death and bone damage.

The letters regarding the hip recall by Stryker stated that all femoral heads affected by the recall instruct healthcare providers to check their prosthetic inventory for these hip implants and to send them back to the company.

Even though the hip recall by Stryker is helpful in preventing future cases of metal hip implant complications, it does not help patients already affected. Potential claimants can contact a specialized lawyer to determine their eligibility for a metal hip implant lawsuit.