A man has filed an LFIT V40 femoral head lawsuit against the makers of the device alleging he suffered severe adverse effects and complications following the device’s implantation.

Plaintiff John M. has filed the most recent LFIT V40 femoral head lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court against Howmedica Osteonics Corp. joining a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the company.

According to the LFIT V40 femoral head lawsuit, John is a resident and citizen of the state of California. He says that he was implanted with the company’s LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 Femoral Head on his left hip on Oct. 27, 2009 at Deaconess Health System located in Evansville, Ind. John was also implanted with an Accolade TMZF, the device’s femoral stem, during the procedure.

John has filed the lawsuit claiming serious injuries were done to himself and that he suffered economic loss.

The LFIT 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 warranty, Violation of Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act, Violation of Consumer Fraud and/or Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices under State Law, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and punitive damages.

Overview: LFIT V40 Femoral Head

A number of patients have filed lawsuits against the makers of the metal-on-metal hip implant device alleging they suffered side effects including but not limited to corrosion, metal toxicity and fretting.

Howmedica Osteonics is a subsidiary of Stryker Orthopedics that offers a wide range of orthopedic products and systems including knee systems, spinal systems and hip systems. The company was founded in 1970.

The LFIT anatomic V40 femoral head and TMZF hip stem are part of a total hip replacement system device that becomes implanted to help increase a patient’s stability and range of motion. It received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2000.

The LFIT femoral head and TMZF femoral stem was designed and manufactured to replace worsened and diminished hip bones, increase hip mobility and function, and promote durability and permanence.

However, severe adverse effects have been reported, ranging from loss of bone fixation strength, hip stem fractures, and dissociation of the femoral head from the stem. Patients have even complained of adverse effects including metallosis which involves the deposit and build-up of metal debris in the body’s soft tissues which can cause further damage.

The accumulation of metal debris can cause further joint damage such as pain, swelling, bone loss, and soft tissue damage. Patients are able to identify a failing or defective metal-on-metal hip system device by checking their blood for elevated levels of cobalt and chromium ions.

The company announced a voluntary recall of the device on Aug. 29, 2016 for femoral heads manufactured prior to 2011. An “Urgent Medical Device Recall Notification” letter was sent to all surgeons implanting patients with the device.

The LFIT V40 Femoral Head Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-10538-IT, in the U.S. District Court of for the District of Massachusetts. The Stryker V40 Lawsuit 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.