Stryker Hip Implant Lawsuit Filed by Alabama Man

Bernauer underwent total hip replacement surgery on March 20, 2012, to repair his mobility problems, but soon encountered serious problems after being implanted with the Stryker Rejuvenate hip replacement system. Bernauer’s physicians found metal ions in his blood stream coming from the cobalt-chromium neck and titanium femoral stem of the Stryker hip implant rubbing against each other. This caused the hip tissue around the implant to become infected, causing him major pain and suffering, according to the lawsuit.

Bernauer had to have revision surgery as a direct result of the defective Stryker hip implant, and will need years of therapeutic recovery and medical counseling to recover from his injuries. Some of the injuries cause by the hip implant may be permanent, and may lead to further revision surgeries and complications, his hip implant attorney alleges.

Bernauer’s attorneys state that Stryker is liable because it did not warn their client of the possible complications associated with their Rejuvenate hip implant, and that the product they designed was defective and dangerous to their patients. Bernauer is suing Stryker for negligence, withholding vital information, and knowingly or unknowingly committing fraudulent acts. Bernauer is seeking punitive and compensatory damages in the amount of $75,000.

Stryker responded to these allegations by stating that while they admit it was their product that had been implanted, it was the doctor’s fault for incorrectly implanting the hip replacement into the patient.

Stryker Faces Hundreds of Lawsuits Over Faulty Hip Implants

Bernauer is not alone in his allegations. Heavy metal poisoning caused by Stryker hip implants has been reported in hundreds of lawsuits throughout the United States. The side effects of metallosis are:

• Pain and soreness
• Swelling
• Kidney damage
• Liver damage
• Heart enlargement
• Increased risk of bladder cancer
• Vision impairment
• Hearing impairment
• Difficulty walking
• Bone fractures
• Damage to surrounding tissues
• Formation of pseudotumors

In July 2012, Stryker voluntarily recalled its Rejuvenate and ABG II hip implants from the market due to so many reports of fretting and corrosion. Many health and legal critics believe that the problems associated with metal hip implants come from their manufacturing process. Unlike most medical devices, metal hip implants do not have to go through clinical testing or any other kind of safety modulation, so long as it is proven they work as well as a product already on the market.

However, because metal-on-metal hip replacement lawsuits continue to be filed in mass numbers, the FDA has issued new guidelines for the approval of these implants:

• Physicians must only use metal-on-metal systems when there is no other choice
• Must monitor patients who have received a metal-on-metal implant
• Manufacturers must prove the safety of their existing systems
• Any future metal-on-metal hip implants must undergo rigorous, comprehensive clinical tests before reaching the market

If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of a Stryker metal hip implant injury, you have legal options. Please visit the Stryker Metal Hip Implant Recall Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a skilled 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 metal-on-metal hip implant attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.