A Mississippi couple has filed a Stryker hip implant lawsuit claiming that the husband’s hip replacement caused him severe problems.

Plaintiffs Jackie C. and Renee C. claim in their Stryker hip implant lawsuit that Jackie, the husband, was implanted with the LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 Femoral Head in July 2014 in his left hip. This procedure was performed at the Merit Health Center in Jackson, Miss.

Just two years later, in November 2016, Jackie says he was forced had the device surgically removed at the same medical facility due to severe problems associated with his hip replacement system. According to the couple’s Stryker hip implant lawsuit, Jackie suffered economic loss and injury to himself. Renee, his wife, claims that she has suffered from the loss of services and loss of consortium.

The Stryker hip implant lawsuit alleges that the couple has suffered damages due to defects in the medical device. The couple accuses the defendant, Howmedica Osteonics Corp. of being directly responsible for the problems that they have experienced. The lawsuit alleges that Jackie’s injuries were a result of a defect in the medical device that caused the implant to be recalled. The plaintiffs assert that they did not learn about the recall until after they had suffered injuries.

Jackie alleges that due to the implant he was exposed to dangerously high levels of chromium and cobalt, as discovered during a blood draw. Jackie was then advised of the abnormalities found in his blood and discovered that those abnormalities could be as a result of his hip implant.

The couple asserts various claims against Howmedica Osteonics in this Stryker hip implant lawsuit.  These claims include negligence, negligence per se, defective design, manufacturing defect, failure to warn, breach of express warranty, breach of warranty as to merchantability, breach of implied warranties, negligent misrepresentation and loss of consortium.

The Dangers of Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Systems

The Stryker metal-on-metal hip replacement system has a design, like many other newer hip implants, that cause metal to touch metal during the joint’s movement. In the past, hip replacement implants were not constructed like this, but patients experienced other problems like loosening, pain and early failure. Metal-on-metal hip replacement systems were designed to last longer and provide a greater range of mobility for potentially younger or more active patient.

However, what has been discovered in many patients who have received a metal-on-metal hip replacement was that metal shards may be released into the surrounding tissue and blood. This release of metal into the body can cause a whole host of problems including pseudotumors, failure of the implant, dislocation of the implant, fractures and other problems. Another significant problem that can occur, that Jackie faced is, metallosis, a metal poisoning of the blood and tissue. Chromium and cobalt from the metal-on-metal hip replacement can be shed into the blood and cause problems for the patient.

This Stryker Hip Implant Lawsuit is Case No. 1:17-md-02768-IT in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.