Stryker has issued a hip implant recall for its LFIT metal hip replacement device. The company has stated that prior to 2011, femoral heads that were manufactured at this time suffered a risk of taper lock failure which could result in a number of complications for hip replacement patients.

The Stryker LFIT hip implant recall was issued in the US after Australia had already recalled the device. The recall was prompted by reports that the taper lock failure led to inflammation in the hip area, pain, dislocation, loss of mobility and tissue reactions local to the site of the implant.

In particular, many patients reported suffering from metallosis as they made reports prior to the Stryker LFIT hip implant recall. Metallosis is caused by metal poisoning in the body. In patients with a Stryker metal hip, cobalt poisoning and chromium poisoning from the hip implant are the most common.

Metal poisoning occurs because small particles from the implant enter into the body and can cause a number of problems. The Stryker LFIT has been reported to suffer from problems with corrosion. When corrosion occurs, or when metal parts of the metal hip implant pieces touch, metal ions or particles shed into the nearby tissue and blood stream.

When this occurs, the metal particles can cause tissue death, which can lead to the device becoming loose or dislocating, causing instability of the hip joint. Additionally, when the metal ions enter the bloodstream, they can wreak havoc throughout the body.

Increased metal levels of chromium and cobalt in the blood can cause organ damage and endocrine disruption which can have systemic effects on the entire body.

What to Do If You’ve Been Affected by the Stryker LFIT Hip Implant Recall

If you or a loved one was implanted with a metal hip that was later the target of the Striker LFIT hip implant recall, you may be entitled to legal compensation for your injuries.

Following this recent Striker LFIT hip replacement recall, a number of hip implant lawsuits have already been filed in federal court. Lawyers believe that hundreds more claims will be filed in the near future based on the complications that patients experienced after having been implanted with the device.

A motion has already been filed to create a multidistrict litigation based on the lawsuits filed following the Stryker LFIT hip implant recall. If the motion is approved, the lawsuits filed against Stryker over the LFIT hip implant will all be consolidated and transferred to a single court under a single judge in order to streamline pretrial judicial proceedings.

Plaintiffs who go onto file products liability lawsuits against the manufacturer when a product is believed to be defective may be able to recover damages related to medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of spousal companionship, loss of earnings in earning capacity and more.

An attorney familiar with the Stryker LFIT hip implant recall can review your case at no charge and can discuss your legal options with you as you begin to research your potential plan of action.