Howmedica Osteonics and Stryker Orthopaedics face a Stryker Rejuvenate lawsuit filed by a man who says he suffered debilitating injuries after his implantation of the metal-on-metal hip replacement device.

Plaintiff Thomas H. files the Stryker Rejuvenate lawsuit in Minnesota federal court, joining a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) filed against the company. The Stryker Rejuvenate lawsuit was filed on June 20, 2018.

According to the Stryker Rejuvenate lawsuit, Thomas is a resident of the state of Arkansas. He says that he was implanted with the Rejuvenate/ABG II Modular hip stem on his left hip on or about August 2012 at Baxter Regional Medical Center.

Thomas alleges that he only knew of the allegedly defective implant and was advised of excessive levels of chromium and cobalt ions in his bloodstream after he had gotten his blood drawn.

The Stryker Rejuvenate lawsuit was filed on multiple counts including: negligence, negligence per se, defective design, manufacturing defect, failure to warn, breach of express warranty, breach of warranty as to merchantability, breach of implied warranties, violation of Minnesota deceptive acts and practices law, violation of consumer fraud and/or unfair and deceptive trade practices under state law, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment.

Thomas demands a trial by jury.

Overview: Stryker Rejuveate Lawsuit

There have been more than 3,400 people who have filed lawsuits against Stryker over severe adverse side effects and complications due to the company’s Rejuvenate and ABG II hip stem. Because of these side effects, Stryker decided to pull the device off market shelves in a company recall; less than two years later they issued another recall, pulling out nearly 42,000 devices.

In 2014, Stryker settled lawsuits over the Rejuvenate and ABG II hip stems and paid almost $2 billion in settlements. The current MDL in federal court covers more than 1,200 lawsuits.

Accusations filed against Stryker in hip implant lawsuits include failing to adequately test the device and making “false and misleading” representations of the safety and efficacy of the device, among other accusations. Claimants say the Rejuvenate manufacturers knew or that they should have known that they were selling defective devices.

There have been several adverse side effects and complications linked to the Rejuvenate/ABG II Modular hip stem. The impact of the metal part rubbing against one another resulted in corrosion and fretting of the hip implant device, causing metal ions to be released into the patients’ bloodstream and surrounding tissues. Other adverse side effects include:

• Metallosis: poisoning of tissue resulting from metal ions and fragments
• Necrosis: tissue and bone death resulting from metal toxicity
• Osteolysis: disbanding of nectrotic bone tissue
• Systemic metal poisoning: inflammation of bloodstream due to presence of metal ions
• Pseudotumors: the presence of false tumors surrounding joints
• Bone fracture
• Revision surgery to replace the defective and faulty metal-on-metal device
• Reconstructive surgery because of weakened bones due to fracture

The Stryker Rejuvenate Lawsuit is Case No. 0:18-cv-01703, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. The Stryker MDL is In re: Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 13-2441 (DWF/FLN), also in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.