Howmedica Osteonics Corp. faces a new Stryker hip implant lawsuit in Alaska federal court, joining an increasing number of lawsuits being filed against the company over severe adverse side effects and injuries from their product.

Plaintiff Richard B. files the Stryker hip implant lawsuit demanding jury trial. The lawsuit was filed on June 25, 2018.

According to the Stryker hip implant lawsuit, Richard is a resident of Anchorage, Alaska. On Feb. 21, 2006, Richard says that he was implanted with an Accolade titanium femoral hip stem and polyethylene acetabular liner. The device also included a tapered LFIT chromium-cobalt femoral head, he claims.

However, after the products were surgically implanted in Richard’s right hip, he alleges he continued to suffer from pain. He then received a blood test on June 8, 2016, which allegedly indicated that he had excessive levels of cobalt in his bloodstream.

In his Stryker hip implant lawsuit, Richard says that he “was experiencing significant pain in his right hip, and was experiencing other symptoms of metallosis poisoning, including tremors, cognitive difficulties, significant pain in his hip, and general fatigue.”

His Stryker hip implant lawsuit was filed on multiple counts including strict liability, design defect, and failure to warn; breach of express and implied warranties; negligence; misrepresentation; violation of the Alaska Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act; and punitive damages.

Overview: Stryker Hip Implant Complications

Thousands of Stryker hip implant lawsuits have been filed against the makers of the metal-on-metal hip replacement device over allegations that the implant causes a number of serious side effects and complications.

The Stryker metal-on-metal hip implant device has caused a higher than normal occurrence for adverse effects. Side effects from the device have included fretting and corrosion of the metal components, which releases metal ions into a patient’s blood stream and surrounding tissues (metallosis).

In addition to metallosis, side effects and injuries linked to the metal-on-metal Stryker hip implant device have included some of the following:

• 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: bones may weaken or fracture
• Revision surgery to replace the defective and faulty metal-on-metal device
• Reconstructive surgery because of weakened bones due to fracture

Howmedica Osteonics is operated as a subsidiary to Stryker Orthopedics, a world-leading medical technology company. The company, founded in 1970, provides services and products including surgical equipment.

An “urgent Medical Device Recall Notification” was announced pertaining to the company’s LFIT Anatomic V40 Femoral Head on Aug. 29, 2016. The notification was sent to surgeons across the nation due to the unexpected number of severe adverse effects and complications patients had reported related to taper lock failure.

Reported complications associated with the LFIT V40 included excessive wear debris, lack of range of motion, loss of bone fixation, and dissociation of the femoral head from the stem.

The Stryker Hip Implant Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-11453-IT, in the Superior Court for the State of Alaska, Third Judicial District at Anchorage.