Illinois Man Files Stryker Hip Implant Lawsuit

The plaintiff had his hip replacement surgery on May 19, 2010, where he was given the Stryker ABG II – a metal-on-metal hip implant that was recalled in 2012. Following his hip replacement surgery, pain began developing in his right hip. After being evaluated by his doctor, it was discovered that he had metal poisoning, soft tissue damage, and a pseudo-tumor.

The complications the Illinois resident experienced led to the plaintiff to have revision surgery in February 2013 on his right hip. The surgeon had to remove soft tissues that were severely damaged by the metal poisoning. According to the Stryker lawsuit, the injuries included extensive soft tissue damage, pain, limping, weakness, and permanent disabilities. Once he recovers, he will have revision therapy on his left hip.

The Stryker hip implant lawsuit charges the manufacturer with designing, manufacturing, and distributing a defective medical device. The lawsuits claims that Stryker Orthopedics did not adequately test the product before they began distributing it and did not properly warn doctors and patients of the associated risks with the ABG II implant. The plaintiff claims that Stryker’s negligence directly lead to his injuries.

Metal Hip Implant Lawsuits Grow

Metal-on-metal hip implants are a new alternative to the traditional total hip replacement surgeries where there is a metal cap placed over the head of the femur and a matching metal cup is placed in the pelvic socket. The advantage to this type of hip implant over traditional implants is that it preserves more of the patient’s thigh bone. However, these implants are more prone to synovitis, which is the inflammation of the joint lining.

Several metal-on-metal hip implant lawsuits have been filed against hip implant manufacturers across the country. Many of these lawsuits have been combined into multi-district litigation (MDL) lawsuits in federal court. Lawsuits have been filed against DePuy and Stryker, two manufacturers at the center of thousands of complaints of metal hip implant side effects.

Along with inflammation, these lawsuits cite severe pain, discomfort, difficulty walking, loosening or dislocation of the joint, allergic reactions, chest pain, vision loss, and a high level of cobalt metal detected in the blood of hip implant patients.

Stryker Hip Implant Recall

In April 2012, Stryker sent out a warning to orthopedic surgeons that they were issuing an Urgent Safety Alert due to corrosion and other problems at the modular sites, after receiving an increase in reports that the implants were causing fretting and/or corrosion at the neck junction and causing severe pain and swelling.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued a recall in July 2012 of the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Stem due to signs that the implants were corroding and fretting. The recall could cost Stryker up to $390 million.

Several of the metal hip implant lawsuits claim that the revision surgeries that patients have to undergo as a result of the problems they’ve experienced are putting patients at risk for other serious complications. Studies have shown that the risk of dislocation goes up with each revision surgery.

If you or someone you know has suffered from complications following hip replacement surgery, legal options are available to you. Learn more and get a free consultation regarding a claim’s eligibility at the Stryker Metal Hip Implant Recall Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Experienced professionals have access to medical experts to assess whether or not this smoking cessation medication played a role in your negative side effects.