Consequences of Stryker Hip Implant Recall Still Leading to Lawsuits

Stryker is a division of Howmedica, and has contracted an insurance adjusting firm called Broadspire to help pay for the expenses of the Stryker hip implant patients who need to pay for blood tests for measuring metal levels, or to pay for surgeries to replace the Rejuvenate or ABG II hip implants. Broadspire is also paying for the DePuy ASR metal hip implant victims, whose device was recalled in August 2010.

The Stryker hip replacements were failing at a high rate because of the chromium and cobalt corrosion from the double modular neck stem of the implant. The corrosion was being caused by the necessary micro motion in the joints. Despite this, Stryker had initially sent doctors promotional material stating that: “Laboratory testing demonstrates the compatibility of these materials without concern for fretting and corrosion.” With this reassurance, doctors had no reason to expect any complications to arise from the product.

Stryker told doctors that the design of the Rejuvenate hip replacement implant would provide better surgical results, because the doctors would be able to adjust of angle and lengths of the device more accurately during surgery. It was an attractive sales pitch to surgeons, especially because the surgical process was somewhat difficult to get the exact angles and leg lengths of preference with the hip implants.

However, Stryker never properly tested this theory on live subjects before its sales campaign to promote the ABG II and Rejuvenate hip implants. While Stryker argues that they did test the idea in their research laboratories, they failed to contrast the differences of testing a product in a laboratory, from conducting a proper scientific clinical study to develop facts that can be reported.

Hip implant attorneys state that Stryker not only knew the metal-on-metal hip implants were exposing their patients to dangerous materials knowingly, but they also had no scientific evidence that the Rejuvenate design would result in better outcomes in patients. Despite this, Stryker aggressively marketed these hip implants as safe and effective products, claiming its patented metal concoction of titanium and cobalt chrome resisted corroding and fretting. Instead, tiny pieces of metal debris were released from the implants a short time after insertion, and caused premature failure, pain, tissue damage, and bone death.

The Stryker hip implant recall came as a shock to many patients and doctors, because many patients selected Stryker’s hip replacement system to avoid the risk of metallosis. Metal poisoning is a common side effect of metal-on-metal hip implants from other companies.

Just recently on May 16, 2013, officials from DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. announced that their company would be phasing out the production and sale of its metal-on-metal hip implants, and that the Pinnacle hip implant would no longer be available in the United States by August 2013. The DePuy Pinnacle hip implant was DePuy’s last remaining metal-on-metal hip implant device on the market, as the metal-on-metal ASR hip implant device was recalled in 2010. Another thing to be phased out of DePuy by August 2013 is a metal component they often use in both their Pinnacle hip implant and the Complete, a ceramic hip replacement device.

According to DePuy representatives, the decision of discontinue the production was brought by the decline in surgeons’ demand for the devices, and a new FDA policy that was activated in January 2013, ruling the company was required to do further testing on all-metal hip implants.

So it’s not just Stryker having trouble with metal problems with their hip devices. Thousands are suing Stryker for negligence in their marketing campaign, as well as withholding information.

If you underwent hip replacement surgery after January 1, 2009, you may have received a recalled Stryker hip implant. If you’re suffering pain or complications, or had to undergo revision surgery, you have legal options. Please visit the Stryker Metal Hip Implant Class Action Lawsuit Investigation for more information. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned metal hip implant lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The hip implant attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.