Another Stryker metal hip complications lawsuit has been filed by a Wisconsin man alleging he suffered severe injuries due to the Stryker hip implant.

Plaintiff Rodger S. filed the Stryker metal hip complications lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court joining an increasing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the company. The Stryker metal hip complications lawsuit was filed on Jan. 31, 2018.

Rodger alleges that on Dec. 4, 2006, he was implanted with an LFIT Anatomic V40 Femoral Head on his left hip at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wis. During the procedure, he was also implanted with the device’s femoral stem, the Accolade TMZF.

However, Rodger says that due to adverse effects and complications, the left femoral head was explanted on May 30, 2017. Some of the side effects he suffered include excessive levels of chromium and cobalt particles in his blood stream, which he attributes to defects in the Stryker hip implant.

The Stryker metal hip complications lawsuit was filed on multiple counts including 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, violation of consumer protection state laws, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment, among others. Rodger demands a trial by jury.

Overview: Stryker Hip Implant Defects

Rodger’s claim is filed as part of a large MDL centered on allegations that the metal-on-metal hip implant causes severe adverse effects including complications of metal toxicity, corrosion, and fretting.

The manufacturer, Howemedica Osteonics, founded in 1970, specializes in the development of hip, knee, and upper extremity spinal systems. The company operates as a subsidiary of Stryker Orthopedics.

However, the metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implant has led to thousands of lawsuits and massive recalls, some of which have settled for billions of dollars. The company’s LFIT Anatomic V40 Femoral Head have led thousands to suffer from complications including pain, mobility, dislocation, and inflammation.

Although the V40 Femoral Head and Accolade TMZF were manufactured and marketed to have increased permanence and durability and replace worsened and diminished hip bones, the company announced a voluntary recall of femoral heads manufactured before 2011 on Aug. 29, 2016. The company released an “Urgent Medical Device Recall Notification” letter to surgeons implanting patients with the device informing them of the increasing number of complaints surrounding the Stryker LFIT V40.

Some of the issues reported with the LFIT V40 include hip stem fractures, dissociation of the femoral head from the stem, loss of bone fixation strength, excessive wear debris, and insufficient range of motion.

Patients like Rodger who were implanted with a defective V40 metal device can tell that their device was failing because of the increased levels of cobalt and chromium in their blood stream. This stems from the junction of the stem component and the LFIT V40 as the metal parts rub together releasing metal ions into the blood stream.

The Stryker Metal Hip Complications Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-10193, in the U.S. District Court of for the District of Massachusetts. The Stryker V40 Lawsuit is in re: Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 17-md-2768-IT, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.