A growing Stryker MDL (multidistrict litigation) alleges the company either knew or should have known about the defective nature of their metal on metal hip implants. Multiple complaints have been filed by patients seeking monetary compensation for their injuries.

One of the most recent claims joining the Stryker MDL comes from a California man alleging that side effects from the company’s all-metal hip implant forced him to undergo revision surgery.

Plaintiff James Z. is filing a Stryker metal hip implant lawsuit against the company and its subsidiary Howmedica Osteonics Corporation, alleging the companies were negligent by failing to warn him and his physician of serious potential side effects associated with the device.

James says he opted for a Stryker metal hip implant that consists of an LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 Femoral Head after reviewing the marketing materials provided by Stryker. According to the Stryker metal hip implant lawsuit, James underwent hip replacement surgery on his right side on Nov. 23, 2011.

According to the Stryker lawsuit, James agreed to get the metal hip implant after discussing the option with his physician and was not aware of potential device complications. At all times relevant, James says, he followed all medical advice and did not deviate from recovery instructions.

James later developed metal hip implant complications and had to undergo revision surgery on Aug. 26, 2014. During this procedure, the Stryker metal hip implant was removed to prevent further injury and to allow his then current hip implant injuries to heal.

The metal hip implant complications James experienced were linked to metallosis, or blood metal poisoning, allegedly due to an interaction between the metal hip components. James joined the Stryker MDL after discovering certain Stryker LFIT implants were recalled from the market due to high rates of device failure and need for revision surgery.

By joining the Stryker MDL, James’ metal hip implant lawsuit will be streamlined through the litigation process and will hopefully avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges. James states he would never have opted for the Stryker metal hip implant if he had known about the high rate of revision surgery.

Overview of Stryker Metal Hip Implant Complications

Stryker issued a voluntary recall of its LFIT Anatomic metal hip implants after receiving a number of injury reports from patients. These injury reports specifically mentioned the Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Heads which lead to the voluntary recall of certain makes and models of the devices.

This is not the first time Stryker has faced allegations of defective metal hip implants, with injury reports indicating ABG II implant problems. The company recalled the ABG II metal hip implants in 2012 after injury reports indicated high chances of metallosis.

Metallosis is caused when friction between the all-metal ball and socket components of the device interact causing metal ions are shed into the blood. This can lead to potential inflammation and infection. This also causes fretting and corrosion in the devices which can lead to device failure and debilitating pain for the patient.

The Stryker MDL Metal Hip Implant Lawsuit is Case No. 1:17-cv-12160, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.