Understanding the Stryker Hip Recall and Related Lawsuits: They Could Affect You

If you have had a hip replacement in recent years, then there is a chance that you received a Rejuvenate or ABG II modular-neck hip device. Both of these products are made by a company called Stryker, which also manufacturers everything from hospital beds to power tools.

These hip replacement devices use a “metal-on-metal” design that could cause unwanted, and potentially dangerous, side effects for recipients. This makes it important for anyone who has received a hip implant to pay close attention to the recall.

What Does The Stryker Malfunction Mean?

Stryker recognizes that some of its hip implants were malfunctioning. This led to a voluntary recall on the products. A recall on implanted medical devices, of course, isn’t exactly the kind of thing that patients like to hear.

Some unwanted side effects included:

• Pain in the hip area
• Tissue swelling
• Damage to local tissue

Damage to local, soft tissues, such as muscles and ligaments, is a much greater concern than damage to bones. Doctors have effective ways to treat bone degeneration. When it comes to soft tissue damage, though, the problem is much more difficult to repair. Significant soft tissue damage could lead to years of difficult rehab. It could even lead to life-long disabilities.

A potential problem that gets talked about less, however, could present even more problems. Metal-on-metal hip implants, like those made by Stryker and DePuy, could release metal ions that enter the bloodstream (as the metal parts rub together, they often release ions that are free to enter the body). Doctors aren’t sure what long-term health consequences this could cause.

Did Stryker Mislead Doctors and Patients?

It’s good that Stryker has agreed to a voluntary recall, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t misled patients and doctors. Current lawsuits are trying to determine whether Stryker marketed the defective products as superior to other implant devices on the market.

If courts find that Stryker provided misleading, faulty, or incomplete information in its marketing material, then a recall might not solve their legal problems. The courts could hold them accountable for much more than replacing the defective implants.

A previous hip implant lawsuit aimed at DePuy revealed that a large number of patients had experienced uncomfortable and painful side effects. If the Stryker case ends up like the Depuy Hip Lawsuit, the lawsuit could quickly turn into a multi district litigation.

Get Your Hip Implant Evaluated

Perhaps more important than the lawsuit, however, is getting patients the help they need. If you have received a hip implant from Stryker, then you should visit your doctor immediately. He or she can perform a battery of tests to determine whether your device is malfunctioning or likely to malfunction. Don’t worry about the expense. Stryker should cover the cost of any tests deemed necessary by your doctor.

No one knows what the long-term consequences of defective metal-on-metal hip implants could be. One thing is certain, though, you need to see a doctor to get your device evaluated.

You can also join the lawsuit to get you just compensation, but your healthcare always comes first.