A new Stryker hip lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts on Aug. 3, 2018. Plaintiff Donald W. is suing the Howmedica Osteonics Corp. for Stryker LFIT V40 problems he experienced after implantation of the prosthetic hip.

This lawsuit is part of many that are being funneled to this district under a Multidistrict Litigation, alleging Stryker LFIT V40 problems and complications with the hip device femoral head.

The Plaintiff’s Story

According to the short-form complaint in this case, Donald was implanted with the LFIT femoral head and Accolade TMZF femoral stem on July 30, 2007. The surgery took place at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., by his orthopedic surgeon.

Because of unspecified Stryker LFIT V40 problems, the complainant says he had to have the femoral head of his hip replacement removed and replaced with an alternative on July 16, 2014. He says this prematurely necessary hip revision was performed at a different facility, St. Anthony Bone and Joint Hospital, in Oklahoma City. Stryker LFIT V40 problems are blamed for the needed surgical intervention.

Donald alleges that he was personally injured because of the hip implant. He adds that he suffered serious economic loss from needing another surgery and having to lay aside time to recover. Because of his Stryker LFIT V40 problems, he was unduly burdened with diagnostic, physician, and hospitalization bills.

The plaintiff is bringing some but not all of the counts of action forward from the MDL long-form complaint into his suit, including Negligence; Strict Products Liability, Defective Design, Manufacturing Defect, & Failure to Warn;  Breach of Warranty, Express, of Merchantability, of Implied; Violation of State Consumer Protection & Unfair/Deceptive Trade Practices Law; Negligent Misrepresentation; Loss of Consortium; Unjust Enrichment; and Punitive Damages.

Donald is asking for a trial by jury with regard to his Stryker LFIT V40 problems. He hopes for a favorable outcome that includes compensatory and statutory damages, as well as consideration to include his attorney and court fees as part of this award.

Stryker LFIT V40 Problems

The Stryker LFIT V40 femoral head prosthetic was voluntarily recalled by the Stryker Howmedica Co. on Aug. 29, 2016. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforced the action with an announcement on Nov. 9 of the same year. The recall affected slightly under 50,000 units.

Howmedica Osteonics Corp. stated that the reason for the removal of the device was reports of taper lock failure. The intersection of the femoral head prosthetic and the stem were allegedly separating and necessitating hip revision surgeon for many recipients of the device.

Additional complaints of Stryker LFIT V40 problems from patients revealed a tendency of the prosthetic to shred metal debris into the surrounding tissues of the hip joint and elevate blood levels of cobalt and chromium.

The Stryker LFIT V40 Lawsuit is Case No.1:18-cv-11641-IT in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts and part of MDL No. 2768—Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head Products Liability.