Manufacturer Stryker Orthopaedic has been named the defendant in a number of products liability lawsuits filed by plaintiffs seeking compensation for their hip implant injuries. The complaints revolve around its Rejuvenate and ABG II modular-neck hip stems that Stryker recalled in July over reports that their titanium and cobalt parts were rubbing together, creating cobalt shavings that may cause heavy metal poisoning in the body. About 20,000 of these devices were in the US.
Plaintiffs are contending that Stryker was negligent in the manufacturing, testing, development, marketing, distribution, and selling of a defective hip plant product. In Massachusetts, contact our Boston hip implant defect lawyers today if you think you may have a claim against Stryker or the maker of another defective medical device.
The two recalled Stryker systems are comprised of mix-and-match parts, which are supposed to provide implant surgeons with more flexibility so they can customize the fit of the femoral components for each patient. The stems have titanium coating, while the neck parts are comprised of cobalt and chromium. It is when the parts rub against one another at the junction where they connect that the metallic debris can arise. Stryker said that the Food and Drug Administration had already received at least 45 reports of complications related to its implant systems this year.
Rejuvenate implant users have been reporting vision loss, fatigue, muscle rot, tumor-like formations, and other health issues. Side effects associated with the metal debris shedding include necrosis (involves the premature death of tissue), the implant coming loose, osteolysis, neurological problems, heart problems, spleen injuries, lymph node injuries, and kidney damage. Painful revision surgery may be required.
Hip Implant Lawsuits
In the last few years, metal-on-metal hip implant devices have been in the news because of the high rates of reported complications and required revisions surgeries to replace implant systems that were failing too soon or creating debris in the body that could result in metal poisoning. DePuy and Zimmer are among the other manufacturers that are being sued over Boston hip implant injuries.
Hip implant patients tell of suffering, file lawsuits, Sun-Sentinel, September 13, 2012
Stryker Recalls Some Hip Implants, CBS Local, July 8, 2012
Modular Neck Stems, Stryker
More Blog Posts:
Johnson & Johnson Settles First Three DePuy Hip Implant Lawsuits for $600,000, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, August 25, 2012
Zimmer KnexGen and DePuy Knee Implants Linked to Patient Injuries, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, August 6, 2012
Woman Files Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit Against Boston Scientific For Her Pain and Permanent Injuries, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, July 11, 2012