A new Stryker femoral head lawsuit has been filed by a Pennsylvania couple, joining the growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the company. The Stryker femoral head lawsuit alleges the wife suffered serious metal hip implant complications which later required revision surgery.

Plaintiff couple Dorothy M. and John M. are jointly filing this Stryker femoral head lawsuit, alleging the defective nature of the metal hip implant component had permanently impacted their lives.

According to the Stryker femoral head lawsuit, Dorothy underwent right hip replacement surgery on Aug. 28, 2006, and had been told the metal on metal hip implant would be a good choice for her situation. Later that year on Dec. 11, 2006, Dorothy says, she underwent the same procedure for her left hip using the same metal on metal hip components.

She says the metal on metal hip implant consisted of the LFIT V40 Femoral Head and Accolade TMZF Plus components, which have become widely associated with serious metal hip implant complications that often require revision surgery. This was reportedly the case with Dorothy, who reportedly had to undergo revision surgery to explant the femoral head component on Jan. 22, 2018.

Dorothy says she previously underwent revision surgery on Oct. 06, 2017 for her left side, which also required the removal of the LFIT V40 femoral head component. Dorothy and John opted to file this Stryker femoral head lawsuit, after discovering there was a recent recall of the component.

Overview of Stryker Metal Hip Implant Complications

Stryker issued a voluntary recall of its cobalt and chromium LFIT V40 femoral heads after learning of a high number of reports of taper lock failure. This is not the first time Stryker has faced public scrutiny for metal on metal hip implant complications, with the company choosing to conduct a recall on the Rejuvenate and ABG II metal hip implants.

Injury reports related to the Stryker knee implant indicated problems like corrosion or fretting, which is often an indicator of metallosis or blood metal poisoning. These complications are blamed on the all-metal femoral head and cup, or ball and socket joint components, which allegedly interact and shedding metal ions into the bloodstream. This can lead to a number of metal hip implant complications including:

• Corrosion
• Fretting
• Debilitating Pain
• Tissue Death
• Formation of Pseudotumors

Patients who experience these problems are often forced to undergo revision surgery, which is considered riskier than the initial implant procedure.

When metal on metal hip implants first entered the market, they were thought to be overtly superior to plastic and ceramic models. Manufacturing companies had marketed these devices had stated these devices were more durable and longer lasting, with most of them being customizable to patients.

However, numerous patients allege manufacturers like Stryker Corporation, failed to warn them against potential metal hip implant complications. Dorothy states she would never have agreed to have the LFIT V40 Femoral Head component implanted if she had known the defective nature of the component.

Dorothy and John’s Stryker femoral head lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2768, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries caused by the LFIT V40 femoral head.

This Stryker Femoral Head Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-10545-IT, in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.