An Arkansas woman has filed a Stryker LFIT complications lawsuit claiming that her metal hip implant caused her severe pain.

Plaintiff Eleanor Z. says she received a hip implant made by Stryker when she underwent a total hip arthroplasty in June 2009. Her Stryker hip implant was the Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head medical device.

After her total hip replacement, Eleanor says she began to suffer from severe Stryker LFIT complications including progressive pain and severe discomfort. Later, the plaintiff found out her Stryker device was corroding which was causing her issues, pain and put her at risk for metallosis.

According to her Stryker LFIT lawsuit, Eleanor was forced to undergo revision surgery because the LFIT Femoral Head had failed.

She believes that as a direct and proximate result of the conduct of the device manufacturers, she has suffered injuries and damages that include past, present and future physical and mental pain and suffering; medical, hospital, rehabilitative, and pharmaceutical expenses; and other related economic and noneconomic damages.

The complications from Eleanor’s Stryker LFIT has resulted in continued pain and suffering, she claims.

Stryker LIFT Complications

The Stryker LFIT hip implant system is a metal-on-metal hip replacement system. Metal-on-metal hip implant parts can often rub together and disperse dangerous metal particles into the patient’s surrounding tissues.

This can cause a dangerous condition known as metallosis. Metallosis is a poisoning of the surrounding tissue and blood from metal debris.

The LFIT system, Low Friction Ion Treatment, was marketed as technologically advanced and designed to enhance hip stability, to minimize dislocation and to maximize the range of motion of the joint. However, the unique combination of metals used in this hip implant system, cobalt chromium alloy, titanium, and titanium alloy, have been reported to increase fretting and corrosion.

There have been many reports of catastrophic failures when these systems have fractured. Also, corrosion has caused the release of metal debris into the soft tissue of many patients causing damage, inflammation, infection and pain.

As a result, there have been many recalls both in the United States and worldwide of the Stryker hip implant systems.

Stryker LFIT complications can include:

• Dislocation of the femoral head from the hip stem
• Fractured hip stem trunnions
• Excessive metal debris
• Excessive wear debris

One recall notice stated that these Stryker LFIT complications can result in:

• Revision to alleviate the hazardous situation
• Inflammatory response
• Adverse local tissue reaction
• Dislocation
• Periprosthetic fracture

Eleanor is bringing forth claims of negligence, failure to warn and design defect.

This Stryker LFIT Complications Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-03033-TLB in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.