A Pennsylvania couple says defects in a Stryker hip device caused the husband to develop a severe case of metal poisoning.

Plaintiffs James and Frances M. have filed a claim in the most recent round of litigation over Stryker hip implants. The couple explains that James was implanted with a Stryker hip device in October 2009. Beginning in 2016, the couple says James developed left hip and leg pain as well as low back, groin and buttock pain. He also reported numbness and weakness in those areas which ultimately led to an increasing inability to flex his left leg at all.

James says he was referred to an orthopedic surgeon in early 2017 because of the symptoms and underwent an MRI, which identified debris and a metal artifact located at the left hip. He was diagnosed with metallosis at that point in time, the couple says.

In June 2017, James allegedly underwent removal of his left hip and received an antibiotic spacer. The physicians completing that procedure reported finding significant metal debris while carrying out the surgery. That retained spacer was removed in August 2017 and a new hip prosthetic was implanted.

James says he has continued to experience significant pain and problems because of this implant. He argues that he and his wife have suffered the consequences of this defective metal hip device because he was never appropriately warned about the possibility of these side effects.

Reasons to Get Hip Replacement Surgery

The Stryker website says that a patient’s joints are involved in practically every activity a person does. When a patient develops hip arthritis or a significant injury, the resulting pain can limit a patient’s ability to walk.

However, plenty of the patients who underwent the implant procedure with a Stryker device say that the device left them worse off than they were before implantation, because of complications linked to metallosis and device break down.

As pointed out by the Food and Drug Administration, all artificial hip implants have some risks, such as the wear of the component material. The FDA states that metal on metal hip implants in particular carry individual risks. This is because the metal cup and the metal ball inside a metal implant slide into one another while the patient is running or walking. This can cause metal particles to be released into the patient’s bloodstream.

Enough of these metal particles inside the patient’s bloodstream metallosis, the body’s reaction to a toxic amount of metal. Having to remove the hip device after the original implantation carries other risks from the follow-up surgery.

Signs of Serious Knee Implant Problems

While recovery from knee surgery can be painful and slow-going, continued mobility issues and chronic pain might make it impossible for the patient to go back to normal life.

Symptoms include soreness or pain directly around the implant, thickened tissue, swelling because of the inflammation, muscle aches, redness around the skin, and instability or loosening of the joint. Any of these symptoms noticed by the patient should be reported to a doctor right away to prevent further problems.

The Stryker Hip Device Lawsuit is Case No. 2:19-cv-00268-MPK, in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.