Woman Files Stryker Lawsuit After Hip Implant Failure

The Stryker Rejuvenate was supposed to be sturdier and safer than other metal on metal hip implants, but was recalled in 2012 due to numerous reports of complications. Plaintiffs like Corbally claim that the company either didn’t do adequate testing of the metal hip implant or intentionally hid the results. Stryker “claims that this particular titanium alloy has been tested and proven by Defendant to resist the effects of corrosion and fretting,” yet it was recalled from the market due to those very same problems, the Stryker hip lawsuit says.

Corbally alleges in the lawsuit that Stryker “acknowledged that it had received reports of device failure due to heavy metal contamination… This corrosion and fretting was exactly the same failure mechanism that Defendant had warranted would not occur because of the Rejuvenate® system’s design and composition. This was also exactly the same failure mechanism that the medical and scientific community had been studying and documenting in modular device design since the 1980s. In the Urgent Field Safety Notice, Defendant went on to describe symptoms and findings nearly identical to those experienced [by Corbally].”

A year before the Stryker hip recall was issued, Corbally received the allegedly defective hip implant on May 23, 2011. Soon after, she began experiencing significant hip pain and discomfort, including a “catching” in her hip area when she walked, and throbbing pain at night, the lawsuit says. Diagnostic workup revealed no early evidence of device loosening, infection, malposition, or any other explanation for Corbally’s symptoms.

Further diagnostic workup revealed that her Stryker hip replacement was loosening, and she was told by doctors that revision surgery would be required to replace the allegedly defective Rejuvenate system. On July 24, 2013, Corbally underwent a costly and painful revision surgery to have the allegedly defective Rejuvenate hip implant removed from her body, according to the lawsuit.

The Stryker hip lawsuit states, “As a direct and proximate result of Defendant placing the Rejuvenate into the stream of commerce, Plaintiff has suffered, and continues to suffer, both injuries and damages including, but not limited to, past, present and future physical and mental pain and suffering; and past, present and future medical, hospital, rehabilitative and pharmaceutical expenses, and other related damages.” 

Corbally is suing Stryker for negligence, breach of warranty, failure to warn, design defect, manufacturing defect, violation of Minnesota Acts and Practices, unfair trade practices, false advertising, merchandising practices, and failure to adequately test. She’s requesting a trial by jury as well as a judgment against the companies for all general, compensatory and special damages.

The Stryker hip lawsuit is Julia Corbally v. Howmedica Osteonics Corp., et al., MDL No.: 13-2441, the United States District Court District of Minnesota.

Obtain a Free Stryker Hip Lawsuit Review 

Did you receive a Stryker hip implant which caused metal poisoning, erosion, and/or required a revision surgery? If so, you likely have a Stryker legal claim. Learn more about your options at the Stryker Metal Hip Implant Recall Class Action Lawsuit Investigation site today. Submit your story, and a hip replacement lawyer will be in touch with you if you have a case for a free Stryker claim review.