Stryker Hip Replacement

About Class Action Litigation and Multi-District Litigation
When corporations or organizations, through their carelessness, harm large groups of individuals, class actions arise. A class action is brought when multiple people suffering the same type of injury sue as a group. The purpose is to eliminate a wrong that has affected a large amount of people by providing a judicial remedy and financial compensation to all members of the class. At Garson Johnson LLC, in Cleveland, Ohio, we have handled multiple class actions and know what needs to be done to secure justice for you.

HIP IMPLANTS

Are you experiencing any of these complications from your hip implant?

Complex revision surgeries
Implant dislocation
Fretting of materials
Corrosion of materials
Problems while walking or not being able to walk
Swelling of your hip
Infections
Loosening of the implant within your body
Bone fracture within the implant site
High levels of metal toxicity
Heterotopic ossification (soft tissue becomes calcified)
Avascular necrosis (bone death)

Is your hip implant one of the following?

DePuy Orthopaedics- Pinnacle Hip Replacement System
DePuy Orthopaedics- ASR XL Acetabular System
DePuy Orthopaedics- ASR Hip Resurfacing System
Stryker Orthopaedics– Rejuvenate
Stryker Orthopaedics- ABG II modular-neck hip stems
Zimmer Holdings- Durom Acetabular Component (Durom Cup)
Smith & Nephew- R3 Acetabular System
Biomet- M2a
Wright Medical- Conserve Plus Total Resurfacing Hip System
Wright Medical- Profemur Z Hip Stem

You may be entitled to compensation for these recalled or defective hip implants. Call today (216) 696-9330 or complete our hip implant case review form.

STRYKER ORTHOPEDICS HIP REPLACEMENT LAWSUIT

In July 2012, Stryker voluntarily recalled two metal-on-metal hip replacement components over concerns that the devices could cause pain, swelling and harm to surrounding body tissue. We would like to hear from patients who suspect they have been implanted with a hip replacement subject to the recall. If you have received a Stryker metal-on-metal hip implant or a similar device that caused problems, we may be able to help you sue the manufacturer to recover compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering and other related losses. Complete the case evaluation form for a free review and consultation of a potential claim.

Stryker Hip Replacement

The Stryker ABG II and Rejuvenate metal-on-metal hip replacement systems connect the "stalk" portion of the implant, the portion that anchors the implant into the femoral head, and the ball portion that resides in the hip socket. Stryker's metal components are made out of a proprietary cobalt-chrome alloys which is referred to in the bio-medical industry as Gas Atomized Dispersion Strengthened Vitallium (GADS). Stryker asserts that the devices are designed to allow surgeons to better pair the implant with the patient's unique anatomical structure. Both the Stryker ABG II and Rejuvenate metal-on-metal hip replacement systems were marketed to patients who suffered from post-traumatic arthritis and hip dysplasia. That is to say, a surgeon's true challenge with the Stryker hip replacement systems resides in fitting a patient with a unique bone structure with a set of standardized metallic components.

Stryker's ABG II and Rejuvenate revisionary hip replacements are used by surgeons during a total hip arthroplasty. Stryker recommends utilizing a cementless implantation of the device during the revisionary hip replacement surgeries. Effectively, as Stryker asserts, the cementless application of the devices allow the bone to knit itself to the implant rather than using the bone cement for adhesion to the femoral head and the hip socket. Both systems, the ABG II and Rejuvenate are implemented in order to correct the following symptoms: femoral neck or trochanteric fracture of the femoral head, correction of deformity in the hip joint, rheumatoid arthritis in the joint, non-inflammatory degenerative joint disease including osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis. Each procedure is determined by preoperative surgical design which accounts for optimal femoral stalk fitting, prosthetic neck length, angular joint evaluation determined through joint x-ray analysis, and finally bone density and adhesion techniques preferred by the surgeon.

Complications from the Stryker ABG II and Rejuvenate Hip Replacements

Complications have arisen with the Stryker ABG II and Rejuvenate revisionary hip replacements within the metal-on-metal bearings inside the artificial joint. Here, the friction through normal use of the joint can create free ranging wear debris or corrosion in between the metal surfaces. Stryker's devices' femoral neck module provides an added component with a tapered junction. Recent research suggests the modular femoral neck is a likely source of metallic fretting and deterioration. With an increase in serum metal ion levels in the patient the implementation of the device can effectively cause an Adverse Local Tissue Reaction (ALTR). An (ALTR) can lead to premature failure of the device though osteolysis, aseptic loosening, and pseudo-tumor formation.

Generally, hip implant lifespans are designed to last approximately 15 years. Patients who have undergone hip replacement surgery may have symptoms that indicate premature device failure.

Hip Implant Fracture as Early as One Month Post Operation

The Journal of Arthroplasty indicated recently that signs of implant fracture in the Stryker ABG II and Rejuvenate metal-on-metal hip replacement systems have developed as early as one month post-op. The damage associated with the Stryker Rejuvenate implant formerly, was believed to take much longer to manifest and subsequently capped the settlements provided at 6 months post-op. In other words, prior to this new research Stryker was only paying out settlements to patients who were at least 6 months out from their total hip arthroplasty. Stryker issued a voluntary recall for both lines of the modular hip replacement systems. Under the recall, Stryker is reimbursing patients and surgeons alike for testing, treatment, revisionary surgeries, and ancillary costs associated with the dysfunctional product. Thus, it is highly advisable to seek follow-up examinations with your surgeon in order to identify possible fractures and potential metallic corrosion in your body if you have had one of these devices implanted. Thus, if you or a loved one have experienced unexplained hip pain or a looseness in the replacement joint or difficulty walking or exercising following a Styrker hip replacement surgery please fill out the contact sheet to have your case evaluated for free today.

Symptom

Description

Dysfunctional Thyroid

Both hypo thyroidism, and hyper thyroidism have been reported after the implementation of the Stryker hip replacement. Hypo-thyroidism symptoms includes: dry hair, puffy face, slow heartbeat, weight gain, constipation, brittle nails, arthritis, cold intolerance, depression, dry skin, memory loss, fatigue, heavy menstrual flow, and increased muscle aches. Hyper thyroidism symptoms include: hair loss, bulging eyes, profuse sweating, rapid heartbeat, weight loss, regular flatulence, soft nails, difficulty sleeping, heat intolerance, infertility, irritability, muscle weakness, nervousness, and scant menstrual cycles.

Renal Impairment

Renal impairment consists of the kidney's inability to properly filter the blood. Renal impairment and/or failure is determined by a decrease in glomerular filtration rates. Essentially, this is the rate by which the blood is filtered in the glomeruli of the kidney(s). Hematuria (blood loss through the urinal tract) and proteinuria (protein loss through the urinal tract) are indicators of renal impairment.

Psychological Problems

In some instances, patients experience depression and/or cognitive impairment after the completion of the hip replacement surgery. Studies have shown adverse postoperative psychological problems are increasingly rare and perhaps are attributed to other mitigating factors.

Neurological Issues

Hip replacement surgery can adversely affect a patient's ability to see and hear. Such adverse changes are uncommon. However, the threat of auditory and visual impairments exists for an array of post-operative complications. Some of these issues have been correlated with cobalt toxicity, while others can be derivative of the surgical procedure itself.

Cardiomyopathy

A rarer complication, disease developing in the heart muscle can develop in patients with ceramic or metallic device components. Similar developments of the aforementioned neurological issues have lead researchers to believe cobalt toxicity is the main cause of cardiomyopathy in hip replacement patients.

Joint Pain and Sensitivity

Patients who undergo a total hip arthroplasty which utilize metal-on-metal devices can develop skin rashes which are hypersensitive. Moreover, increasing numbers of allergic reactions to the alloys and cement used in Stryker ABG II and Rejuvenate metal-on-metal hip replacement systems have been noted.