Stryker

Medical device giant Stryker Corporation recalled its Trident PSL and Hemispherical Acetabular Cups after numerous warning letters from the FDA about failing to establish and maintain procedures that conform to FDA guidelines or adequately address consumer complaints. Stryker defective hip implant attorneys say that Stryker, which reported sales of $6.7 billion in 2009, knew about these hip implant defects years beforehand. Stryker defective hip implant lawsuits also continue to be filed across the nation.

Update: In July 2012 – Stryker recalled two additional models: the Rejuvenate and the ABG II. Stryker said it voluntarily recalled the hip stems due to potential for corrosion and fretting at or about the modular-neck junction, which could result in Stryker orthopedics adverse reactions, including pain, swelling. metallosis, necrosis and osteolysis. The lawyers at Slater Slater Schulman LLP are currently investigating potential Stryker Rejuvenate Lawsuits and Stryker ABG II lawsuits.

Signs and Symptoms

The patients who reported problems in the first five years and had revision surgery reported a variety of symptoms. These symptoms included pain, swelling and problems walking. These symptoms are normal if you have just had a hip replacement. If the symptoms continue or come back, it is a sign that there may be a problem.

The symptoms above might be caused by problems such as:

• Loosening – when the implant does not stay attached to the bone in the correct position
• Fracture – where the bone around the implant may have broken
• Dislocation – where the two parts of the implant that move against each other are no longer aligned

The Stryker Hip is made up of ball and socket components that move against each other. These metal components wear over time and generate very small particles that can only be seen with a microscope. This is an expected process. These particles do not cause problems for most patients, but a small number of patients may react to these particles, causing fluid to collect in the joint and in the muscles around the joint. While this condition may initially be painless, if left untreated, this reaction may cause pain and swelling around the joint and could damage some of the muscles, bones, and nerves around the hip. This often results in the need for a second surgery.

Having a second surgery is costly and painful. Second surgeries can be more difficult to recover from and you may be left with some chronic pain. It is never good to have unnecessary surgery. Each surgery puts your body through a period of trauma and recovery. If the second surgery is the result of a faulty product, as in the case of a Stryker Hip Replacement, then you need the help of a Stryker Lawyer and may have to file a Stryker Lawsuit.

Cobalt Poisoning

According to an article published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, metal-on-metal hip implants used in hip replacement surgeries may lead to the development of a serious condition known as cobaltism, or excessive levels of the metal cobalt in the bloodstream and tissues of the body.

Based on case studies of documented cobalt poisonings, the article describes two patients from Alaska who developed the condition after receiving Stryker metal-on-metal hip implants.

Within one year of the hip implant surgery, both patients experienced symptoms of persistent hip pain and shortness of breath as the microscopic metallic particles from the hip implant were released into the bloodstream and tissues.

Two years after the hip implantation, the patients in the study experienced more tell-tale symptoms of cobaltism, which can include irritability, fatigue, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, headaches, loss of coordination, cognitive decline, and depression. The condition may also lead to blindness, convulsions, nerve damage and disease of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).

In addition to the neurological and cardiac problems, cobaltism can also cause tissue damage that can complicate future revision surgeries intended to replace the damaged metal implant.

Do I have a Stryker Hip Replacement Lawsuit?

If you believe you or someone you know has been injured following a Stryker Trident or a Stryker Rejuvenate hip replacement please contact Slater Slater Schulman LLP at 1-800-251-6990 or fill out our online form and an attorney will contact you.