A woman and her husband have filed a lawsuit alleging she suffered severe injuries from the Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant.

Plaintiffs Jo Ann and Paul N. say they have suffered economic loss and damage to their relationship because of complications from the hip implant.

According to their lawsuit, Jo Ann was implanted with the Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant in her right hip in February 2011. She underwent removal of the Rejuvenate hip stem in April 2018.

Their lawsuit joins multidistrict litigation (MDL) against Howmedica Osteonics, the company that makes Stryker hip implant systems named in the complaint — the Rejuvenate and the ABG II.

According to the MDL, the Rejuvenate was different from traditional femoral stems because the Rejuvenate femoral stems consisted of two components instead of one solid component. The Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant made use of a cobalt-chromium neck that is inserted into a titanium stem.

The Rejuvenate’s ability to fit separate femoral stem and neck components purportedly was useful “by allowing the surgeon to independently manage leg length, neck version, and femoral offset, the system provides surgeons the ability to better personalize the biomechanics of each patient’s hip implant.”

Promotional materials for the Stryker Rejuvenate hip system claimed the proprietary titanium alloy consisting of titanium, molybdenum, zinc and iron (TMZF) was stronger but less rigid that other titanium alloys. Howmedica said that their TMZF alloy was designed to resist corroding and fretting.

Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Implant Problems

Despite claims of superior strength, wear and tear of the metal-on-metal Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant allegedly resulted in small metallic particles shaving off the system’s components. These metal shavings then worked their way into nearby tissue, alleges the lawsuit, causing inflammation, pain, and an immune system response that caused fluid collection in the hip area.

Over time, the metal ions seeped into blood and bone, causing Jo Ann to experience elevated blood serum levels of chromium and cobalt.

According to the lawsuit, the medical community has been aware since the 1980s of corrosion issues when titanium and cobalt/chromium parts have been used at modular junctions in medical implants. Still, Howmedica allegedly said they tested their titanium alloy and it was proven to resist corrosion and fretting.

In July 2012, Howmedica issued a voluntary recall of the Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant in the U.S. and said the recall was issued because of “reports of device failure due to heavy metal fretting and corrosion.”

The company is accused of failing to follow U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for reporting adverse events and post-FDA approval reports in a timely manner.

If you or someone you love has received a Rejuvenate hip implant and suffered metal poisoning, constant pain, inflammation or pseudotumors, you could qualify to participate in a Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant lawsuit.

The Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Implant Lawsuit is Case No. 0:18-cv-02533 and is part of the Stryker Hip Implant MDL, In re: Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2441, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.