Patients who received a Stryker Accolade hip implant may face a risk of fretting and corrosion, which can cause the failure of the metal implant, according to a number of complaints lodged against the medical device manufacturer.

About the Stryker Accolade Hip Implant

The Stryker Accolade hip implant was introduced in March 2000, featuring a titanium stem that is single piece designed to be implanted into the patient’s femur.

Although intended to provide improved flexibility and strength to mimic natural bone, some patients are alleging that the device poses a dangerous risk of corrosion and fretting.

The Accolade’s design is alleged to cause the release of metallic debris, such as chromium and cobalt particles, into a patient’s body. This may lead to localized tissue necrosis, bone damage, and metallosis or heavy metal poisoning.

Stryker Accolade Hip Implant Recalled

Stryker recalled their Accolade hip implant in July 2009. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the Stryker Accolade hip implant constituted a class II recall.

The FDA defines a class II recall as “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”

The FDA’s recall announcement noted that hip implants are inserted into the thigh bone to provide support to the femoral head in either an initial implantation procedure or a revision procedure. Unlike most metal-on-metal hip implants, which are often made of cobalt and chromium, the Stryker Accolade hip implant is comprised of mostly titanium.

According to the FDA, Stryker recalled the device because specific lots of the device deviated from their specifications for “tensile bond strength and crystallinity”, which could lead to metal particles being released into a patient’s body.

Stryker has also had issues with its Rejuvenate and ABG II hip replacements, which were also recalled in 2012 amid reports that they corrode and fail within a few years of surgery.

Complications Linked to the Stryker Accolade Hip Implant

The Stryker Accolade hip implant has been linked to some patients suffering complications including:

• Infection
• Necrosis (premature tissue death)
• Metallosis
• Revision surgery
• Bone damage
• Pseudotumors

Did You Suffer Complications from a Stryker Accolade Hip Implant?

A Stryker Accolade lawsuit may be an option for patients who have suffered complications from a Stryker Accolade hip implant.

Although these new type of hip implants use a proprietary titanium alloy aimed at easing the friction with bone surfaces, lawsuits have alleged that the design and manufacture of the hip implant is defective resulting in some patients suffering bone damage and heavy metal poisoning.

In fact, many lawsuits against the manufacturer have already been filed. These lawsuits specifically allege that the materials used in the Stryker Accolade hip implant have been known for decades to cause significant fretting and corrosion issues due to the combination of dissimilar metals.

Affected patients may be able to pursue claims for compensation with the help of an attorney. For more information, contact an experienced metal hip implant attorney today for a free, confidential case evaluation.