Howmedica Osteonics Corp. faces a news Stryker V40 femoral head lawsuit filed by a couple joining a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the company.

Plaintiffs Barbara and Kevin M. file the Stryker V40 femoral head lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court.

According to the Stryker V40 femoral head lawsuit, Barbara and Kevin are both residents and citizens of the state of Wisconsin. Barbara says that she became implanted with an LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 Femoral Head on her right hip on Aug. 14, 2012, at Oakleaf Surgical Hospital located in Eau Claire, Wis. During the procedure, she also became implanted with the Accolade II femoral stem.

However, due to severe adverse side effects she allegedly suffered, she later explanted the device on Dec. 8, 2016. She files the Stryker V40 femoral head lawsuit claiming damages as a result of injury to herself. Due to his wife’s injuries, Kevin claims damages the result of loss of services and loss of consortium.

According to the Stryker V40 femoral head lawsuit, Barbara could not have known that she would suffer from the injuries allegedly the result of an LFIT and Accolade II femoral stem. In fact, she says that it was only after her blood was drawn where she discovered excessive levels of chromium and cobalt, that she realized that the abnormalities and adverse side effects were attributable to a defective device, the Stryker V40 femoral head lawsuit states.

The Stryker V40 femoral head 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 Consumer Fraud and/or Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices, Negligent misrepresentation, loss of consortium, unjust enrichment, and punitive damages.

The plaintiffs request a trial by jury.

Overview: Stryker V40 Femoral Head

Barbara’s claim is filed as part of a large MDL centered on allegations that the metal-on-metal hip implant device causes adverse effects and complications including fretting, toxicity, and corrosion. The device, made primarily of components that are metal-on-metal, have led thousands to patients to file Stryker 40 femoral head lawsuits due to the severe adverse effects they’ve suffered that have included inflammation, pain, and dislocation of the hip device.

Howmedica Osteonics, which operates as a subsidiary of Stryker Orthopedics, was founded in 1970. An “Urgent Medical Device Recall Notification” was released by the company, however, announcing a voluntary recall on Aug. 29, 2016.

Issues reported with the LFIT V40 device includes excessive wear debris, lack of range of motion, loss of bone fixation, and dissociation of the femoral head from the stem. Excess levels of cobalt and chromium ions are also found in the bloodstream. It is caused as the LFIT V40 femoral head and TMZF femoral stem rub together releasing the ions to the surrounding tissues and bloodstream.

The Stryker V40 Femoral Head Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-10906-IT, in the U.S. District Court of for the District of Massachusetts. The Stryker V40 MDL is In re: Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 17-md-2768-IT, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.