Stryker Corporation and subsidiary Howmedica Osteonics are facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of product liability claims from patients who had to undergo Stryker hip revision surgery.

One of the most recent additions comes from a woman and her husband from Alabama, who filed a product liability claim soon after having to undergo Stryker hip revision surgery.

Plaintiff Jan P. and her husband William S. filed this Stryker metal hip lawsuit together, alleging the defective nature of the company’s all metal hip replacement system had caused Jan to undergo Stryker hip revision surgery.

Like many other prosthetic patients, Jan says she had been recommended a device with the LFIT V40 Femoral Head and TMZF stem components after reviewing marketing materials from the company.

This prosthetic was advertised to be a safe and effective option for patients needing to undergo hip replacement surgery, due to suffering damaged or deteriorating hip damage. With these benefits in mind, Jan claims she had the TMZF stem implanted on March 18, 2005 and the LFIT V40 Femoral Head implanted onto her left side on Nov. 2, 2006.

According to the Stryker metal hip lawsuit, Jan initially responded well to the metal on metal hip implant but had eventually suffered metal hip implant complications. Due to these serious metal hip implant complications, Jan claims, she had to undergo Stryker hip revision on Aug. 16, 2017.

The allegedly defective metal hip implant components were explanted and replaced, with Jan still reporting chronic side effects. Jan opted to file legal action against Stryker Corporation, after discovering numerous other patients had to undergo Stryker hip revision surgery.

It is important to note that certain models of the LFIT V40 Femoral Head component had been recalled from the market, after Stryker had received numerous reports of taper lock failure and resulting complications.

Overview of Stryker Metal Hip Implant Complications

When metal on metal hip implants were first introduced to the market, they were thought to be overtly superior to the plastic or ceramic models. Manufacturers like Stryker and marketed these products to be more durable and longer lasting, which made them good choices for younger and more active prosthetic patients.

However, numerous patients have had to undergo Stryker hip revision surgery due to complications allegedly caused by the device components. When the all metal ball and socket joint components interact, metal ions are shed into the bloodstream and can quickly cause a number of other complications.

One of these complications is metallosis or blood poisoning, which occurs when metal ion levels are too high. This condition can often lead to device failure with patients experiencing a number of painful side effects including:

• Debilitating Pain
• Infection
• Fretting
• Corrosion
• Tissue Death
• Limited Movement

Patients who experience these complications may have to undergo Stryker hip revision surgery. Jan states she would not have agreed to have the Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head and TMZF Stem components implanted, had she known the high risk of Stryker hip revision surgery.

Jan and William’s Stryker metal hip lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2768, where it will stand alongside other claims filed by patients who had to undergo Stryker hip revision surgery.

This Stryker Hip Revision Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-11270-IT, in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.