Recalled Stryker femoral heads could cause problems in patients with hip implant systems.

Stryker’s LFIT Anatomic V40 Femoral Head is the subject of an FDA Class 2 device recall. Stryker reportedly received complaints of harm due to taper lock failure for specific lots of the Stryker femoral heads.

The cobalt and chromium Stryker femoral heads allegedly can cause multiple complications. The femoral head might disassociate from the hip stem. The hip stem trunnion can fracture. Patients might experience an insufficient range of motion or insufficient soft tissue tension.

A problematic Stryker femoral head can result in a loss of bone fixation strength, and make noise upon movement.

Stryker Femoral Heads Have History of Metal-on-Metal Issues

Stryker previously recalled its Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular hip replacement systems after patients alleged the devices were corroding. In those cases, corrosion allegedly occurred when a titanium alloy stem was paired with a cobalt and chromium femoral neck.

Stryker femoral heads lawsuits allege that the company knew or should have known that the stem made of a titanium, molybdenum, zirconium and iron alloy would cause significant corrosion when paired with the cobalt and chrome femoral head because of the history of the Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular systems.

Corroding metal-on-metal hip implants resulted in tiny pieces of metal fretting away from the parts that rubbed together. Over time, the metals would release metal ions into the patient’s system, resulting in metal poisoning.

Metal pieces flaking off around the implant can settle into nearby tissue and cause inflammation, fluid retention, pain, and tissue death. Complications from Stryker femoral heads allegedly have resulted in patients experiencing intense pain, limited mobility, and joint infections, all of which can lead to the need for revision surgeries.

According to a July 2012 study outlined in the medical journal Orthopedics, 95 percent of patients who experienced failed metal-on-metal hip systems needed revision surgery within three years.

Issues with Recalled Stryker Femoral Heads

If you have any of the recalled Stryker femoral heads and are experiencing adverse effects, you could qualify for a hip replacement lawsuit.

Among the problems patients have reported experiencing with the Stryker femoral heads are:

• User annoyance
• Loss of mobility
• Pain requiring revision
• Inflammatory response
• Adverse local tissue reaction
• Dislocation
• Pseudotumors
• Joint instability
• Revision to alleviate a hazardous situation
• Pain associated with implant loosening
• Periprosthetic fracture
• Leg length discrepancy

Stryker also released the catalog numbers of the affected parts:

6260-9-236; 6260-9-240; 6260-9-244; 6260-9-340; 6260-9-440; 6260-9-344; and 6260-9-444.

If you are experiencing problems, but are unsure if your hip system includes one of these recalled Stryker femoral heads, you can contact your surgeon to verify the parts and the catalog numbers of the parts used in your hip replacement surgery.

If your hip system includes the Stryker femoral heads, you could qualify to participate in a medical product liability lawsuit against the company.