The recent Stryker femoral head recall removed thousands of allegedly defective metal hip implants from the market to prevent future orthopedic injuries. The Stryker femoral head recall was voluntarily conducted by the manufacturer after receiving a higher number of device failure reports than expected.

The injury reports specifically focused on the Stryker LFIT Cobalt/Chromium V40 femoral heads, with the medical community and patient population concerned over potential metal hip implant complications and need for revision surgery.

Stryker sent notice of the Stryker femoral head recall to healthcare facilities across the country in August 2016, stating that there were high device failure rates associated with specific sizes and models of the LFIT V40 femoral heads.

The Stryker femoral head recall primarily affects device components manufactured before 2011, with the sizes of the Stryker LFIT V40 femoral heads ranging between 36 to 44 millimeters and offsets between +4 to +12.

The Stryker femoral head recall directed medical facilities to clean out their inventory, taking out the affected Stryker V40 femoral heads from their inventory to prevent future injuries.

These V40 femoral head component attaches to the upper end of the femur bone, while the other end of the components forms a joint with the pelvic bone. These metal hip components are supposed to help give stability to patients who are suffering from damaged or deteriorated hip bones.

However, medical care providers began warning patients of the Stryker femoral head recall in 2016, warning patients of sudden device failure and potential metallosis. Both of these complications often force patients to undergo revision surgery to explant or replace the metal hip implant.

Overview of Stryker Femoral Head Complications

Stryker Orthopaedics notified the medical community of its voluntary Stryker femoral head recall, stating that many patients who had received implants with the LFIT V40 femoral heads had experienced sudden device failure and metallosis.

The femoral heads are composed of cobalt and chromium alloys, which are meant to be long lasting and durable for patients opting for the device. However, these all-metal hip implant components are allegedly prone to corrosion and fretting, with the ball and socket joint interacting and shedding metal ions into the blood.

This can cause a number of other complications including surrounding tissue death, formation of pseudotumors, extreme pain, and need for revision surgery. In addition, the femoral heads reportedly corrode while inside the patient, potentially causing the head to separate from the femoral stem. This occurrence is described as “spontaneous dissociation,” with patients requiring revision surgery to remove and replace the device.

This is not the first metal hip implant recall Stryker has dealt with. The company previously recalled the Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular hip replacement systems in 2012.

Patients had reported needing revision surgery, with the hip implants corroding and causing metal ions to enter the bloodstream. These patients reported developing metallosis as well as limited mobility, joint infections, and need for revision surgeries.

Patients who received a metal hip implant affected by the Stryker femoral head recall may be able to file legal action against the company. Potential claimants may contact a lawyer to determine eligibility for a Stryker femoral head lawsuit.