A new Stryker V40 lawsuit has been filed against Stryker Corporation and Howmedica Osteonics Corp. by an Oregon couple alleging the company’s metal on metal hip implant was defective in nature and forced the claimant to undergo revision surgery.

This Stryker V40 lawsuit is joining a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), where it will stand alongside other claims filed by patients who allegedly experienced similar device complications.

Plaintiff Jeannie Y. and her husband Frank Y. are jointly filing this Stryker V40 lawsuit, alleging the company’s defective device has permanently impacted their marriage and other aspects of their lives.

According to the Stryker V40 lawsuit, Jeannie had the metal on metal hip implant recommended to her for typical treatment purposes and believed it was supposed to help restore her movement and normal life.

Jeannie says her physician recommended this device after they reviewed various advertisements and marketing statements from Stryker Corporation. With these benefits in mind, Jeannie had the Stryker V40 femoral head and Accolade TMZF stem implanted on her right hip on Aug. 28, 2012.

The V40 femoral head and Accolade TMZF stem are components that make up the metal on metal hip implants and are supposed to be more durable and longer lasting than ceramic or plastic hip implants. It is important to note that at all times relevant, Jeannie says she followed all recovery instructions after her surgery and had no reason to be wary of any serious metal hip implant complications.

However, Jeannie alleges she started experiencing complications often mentioned in conjunction with other metal on metal hip implants, including metallosis or blood metal poisoning, and eventually needed to undergo review by her doctor. According to the Stryker V40 lawsuit, Jeannie had the femoral head component explanted on Feb. 26, 2018.

Jeannie opted to file legal action against Stryker after learning of the recent recall of certain Stryker V40 femoral heads.

Overview of Stryker Metal Hip Implant Problems

The recent Stryker recall withdrew V40 femoral heads manufactured before 2011 on Aug. 29, 2016, and the company released an Urgent Medical Device Recall Notification letter to surgeons that indicated numerous patients had suffered device complications.

This is not the first time Stryker had received complaints regarding metal on metal hip implants, with the company having to recall their Rejuvenate and ABG II metal hip implants from the market in 2012. When metal on metal hip implants were first introduced o the market, they were thought to be overtly superior to plastic and ceramic models.

Most metal on metal hip implants were marketed to be customizable to patients and were advertised to be better choices for patients looking to live more active lifestyles. However, the all metal ball and socket joint components of the hip cause metal ions to be shed into the bloodstream, which can quickly compound.

This Stryker V40 lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2768, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries. Jeannie states she would not have agreed to get the Stryker V40 hip implant if she had known about its potential for early device failure.

This Stryker V40 Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-10447, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.