A Louisiana resident has filed a metal-on-metal hip implant lawsuit after toxins were discovered in his bloodstream. Plaintiff Robert G. is suing Howmedica Osteonics, Stryker Orthopaedics, Stryker Corp., Stryker Sales Corporation, and Stryker Ireland for negligence and product liability after discovering that he received a faulty hip implant product.

The Stryker hip lawsuit claims Robert underwent surgery in April 2012 to implant an artificial right hip. In April 2014, Robert went to the hospital emergency room after experiencing pain and complications. It was in the ER that he first learned of the Stryker hip recall.

The plaintiff claims that he has been potentially injured due to the metal and/or toxins in his system and wants to be compensated for the pain and suffering he endured due to the device’s defective nature. In addition to negligence and product liability, Robert also brings claims against the manufacturers of breach of warranty, deceptive trade practices, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment.

The Stryker Hip Implant Lawsuit is Case No. 2:15-cv-01313-JCZ-MBN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Stryker Recall

The metal-on-metal hip implants were designed as an alternative to metal and plastic hip implants. According to recent hip replacement lawsuits, however, the Stryker hip implant carries a higher failure rate because the metal-on-metal hip is difficult to implant correctly. If the medical device is surgically off by even a little bit, the metal parts could rub together and release particles into the bloodstream. 

After numerous reports and studies, the FDA issued a voluntary recall that included 93,000 hip implants worldwide.

In addition to leaking toxins into your bloodstream, other reported hip implant side effects include:

• Cancer
• Tissue death for any tissue surrounding the implant
• Hip dislocation
• Failure of the metal-on-metal hip implant, requiring early replacement
• Degenerative Heart Disease or Cardiomyopathy
• Loss of bone strength or structure, which can result in bone fractures
• Non-cancerous tumors or pseudotumors around the hip implant

Thousands of Stryker hip lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs seeking compensation for medical expenses as well as the pain and suffering involved with hip replacement complications.

Stryker Hip Lawsuits and Settlements

After the Stryker hip recall in 2012, patients who suffered various hip replacement complications began filing metal-on-metal hip lawsuits. Many of the hip lawsuits allege plaintiffs had to undergo hip revision surgery after the medical device failed. In general, plaintiffs join a Stryker class action lawsuit seeking compensation for medical bills, especially after requiring multiple surgeries. Families who experience an untimely loss of a family member due to a hip replacement complication may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit, which could result in millions of dollars in financial compensation.

Recent Stryker settlements have results in hundreds of thousands of dollars for individuals who claim the makers failed to warn of any serious complications associated with a hip replacement implant. If you have had hip implant surgery and later experienced similar complications, contact a hip implant attorney as you may have legal claim.