The Stryker LFIT V40 femoral head recall has left the patient population and medical community wary of these popular metal on metal hip implants.

Numerous reports of metal hip implant complications had eventually initiated the Stryker LFIT V40 femoral head recall, with physicians warning patients against sudden device failure and metallosis and how the devices were recalled.

The medical community began warning patients of the Stryker LFIT V40 femoral head recall in 2016, to help prevent against further metal hip implant injuries.

Stryker LFIT Recall

After receiving the injury reports, Stryker had initiated a voluntary Stryker LFIT V40 femoral head recall on Aug. 29, 2016. The company had alerted hospitals and surgeons to be vigilant for any metal hip implant complications, who had recently opted for the Stryker LFIT V40 femoral heads.

Canadian health officials have issued their own Stryker LFIT V40 head recall announcements, with the first wave beginning in September 2015. This recall was reportedly issued due to the fact that that the Stryker LFIT V40 femoral heads could not connect with V40 stems, which affected LFIT V40 heads manufactured July 7, 2014 and Aug. 15, 2014.

Health Canada then issued another Stryker LFIT V40 femoral head recall in 2016, when the agency received a large number of injury reports associated with the femoral heads manufactured before 2011. The agency stated the number of injury reports was higher than what the agency and manufacturer predicted.

In September 2016, the Therapeutic Good Administration had also issued a public alert regarding Stryker LFIT V40 femoral heads, citing a concerning number of injury reports. Not long after, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency had released an Urgent Field Safety Noticed regarding Stryker LFIT V40 heads manufactured between January 2002 and March 2011.

Overall, these different recalls of the Stryker LFIT V40 femoral heads occurred due to alleged significant design flaws and serious injury reports. The high number of metal hip implant complications associated with Stryker LFIT V40 femoral heads are blamed on interaction between the all metal components of the devices, compounding the patient’s condition.

Overview of Metal Hip Implant Complications

Metal on metal hip implants are often implanted in patients who sustain serious hip related injuries or when hips become deteriorated or damaged due to arthritis.

These devices are often composed of cobalt and chromium metals, which are designed to be long lasting and durable. For this reason, these device are especially popular among younger patients who wish to live a more active lifestyle. When metal on metal hip implants were first released, they were thought to be overtly superior to plastic or ceramic models.

However not long after the devices were released in the United States, patients began reporting injuries and metal hip implant complications. When the all metal hip ball and socket components of the device interact, metal ions are shed into the bloodstream (metallosis), which then causes a multitude of other problems.

Even though these metal hip implant complications can be potentially devastating to patients, Stryker allegedly failed to warn the public in a timely manner. Patients who opted for implants affected by the Stryker LFIT V40 femoral head recall may be eligible for legal action.