Stryker Corporation is facing a new metal hip implant lawsuit from a South Carolina woman alleging serious complications from the company’s Accolade TMZF hip stem device.

Plaintiff Phyllis H. claims that as a direct result of the company’s Accolade TMZF hip stem device, she experienced a number of serious metal hip implant complications and was eventually forced to undergo revision surgery.

Phyllis had opted for the Accolade TMZF hip stem after she and her physicians reviewed Stryker’s marketing materials. After seeing the number of benefits the product offered, Phyllis had the Accolade TMZF hip stem implanted in her right hip on April 28, 2007.

Even though Phyllis had no initial complications, she reportedly began experiencing metal hip implant complications several years after the implant surgery. Diagnostic testing revealed the surrounding tissue around the device was infected, along with elevated levels of metal ions in the blood and corrosion of the metal on metal hip implant.

Due to the worsening symptoms, Phyllis had to undergo revision surgery on her right hip on July 29, 2015. During the surgery, it was discovered she was suffering significant metallosis and trunnionosis that had resulted in soft tissue damage.

Phyllis has since had to endure extensive rehabilitation to recover from the damage the Accolade TMZF hip stem implant allegedly caused.

Overview of Metal Hip Implant Complications

The Accolade TMZF hip stem is a part of a metal on metal hip implant model, which contains no cushion or barrier between the device’s metal components. The other component implanted in Phyllis was the LFIT Anatomic V40 Femoral Head, which is supposed to restore damaged hip function when combined with the Accolade TMZF hip stem.

Metal on metal hip implants are very popular amount younger patients, with companies marketing them to be more durable and longer lasting than ceramic or plastic models.

In addition, many of these metal hip implants are customizable and can reportedly handle harsher movements like exercise. Howeve, many patients have alleged serious metal hip implant complications due to the allegedly defective nature of the device.

When the ball and socket joints of the metal hip implant interact, metal ions can be shed into the bloodstream and can cause other metal hip implant complications. These complications including: fretting, corrosion, infection, tissue death, device failure, debilitating pain, and the formation of pseudotumors.

Some metal on metal hip implants like the Accolade TMZF hip stem, are approved through the FDA 510(k) process, after the manufacturer shows the product is substantially similar to already released metal hip implants. If a device meets this requirement, the device can go to market without full clinical studies.

It has been alleged that these devices are unreasonably dangerous to patients and were not properly evaluated before being released into market. Even though these metal hip implant complications can be devastating to patients, plaintiffs allege the manufacturing companies failed to warn the public.

Phyllis states that she would not have opted for the Accolade TMZF hip stem if she had known about the potential metal hip implant complications.

Her Metal Hip Implant Lawsuit is Case No. 7:17-cv-01592-MDL, in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.