December 22, 2016 - A new Settlement Agreement has been reached which will benefit a significant number of patients who have been involved in the ongoing litigation against Stryker Corporation. This litigation involves problems with the Rejuvenate and ABGII femoral hip implants, has recently been reached. This new Settlement will cover Stryker hip patients who were forced to have a Rejuvenate or ABGII hip device removed after November 3, 2014, and prior to December 19, 2016. The Settlement follows the unlimited compensation fund of more than a billion dollars which was established in the fourth quarter of 2014.
The new Settlement Agreement is also an “unlimited funds” for this round of patients who were injured from one of the recalled metal hip replacement devices manufactured by Stryker, and recalled in 2012. In the initial Stryker Settlement Program, more than 95 percent of those eligible enrolled. This latest Stryker Settlement Agreement is expected to, at least mostly, bring the issue of defective Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII metal-on-metal hip devices to a close in the United States.
The Recent Stryker Settlement Agreement Could Exceed the First in Cost to the Stryker
There are some lawsuits which will remain open, as Stryker has chosen to defend against certain claims. It is believed the ultimate cost of this latest Settlement Agreement could be significantly different from the amount which has been set aside as an estimate. It is expected that most of the authorized payments under this latest Settlement Agreement will be disbursed by the end of 2017.
What Were the Problems Associated with the Rejuvenate and ABGII?
The four components of the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII hip devices (femoral stem, modular neck, ball, and acetabular cup) were found to rub against one another after implantation, resulting in significant levels of friction and the shearing away of microscopic metal shards. Those metal ions could land in nearby hip tissues or could find their way to the bloodstream. When the metal pieces became embedded in hip tissues, chronic pain, significant inflammation, failure of the hip device, deterioration or necrosis of hip tissue and bone, and the necessity for revision surgery could occur. Cobalt and chromium ions in the bloodstream could result in any number of extremely serious health issues, including loss of vision and hearing, reproductive disorders and alterations in DNA.
Getting the Help You Need for Your Stryker Metal Hip Injuries
If you are a recipient of a recalled Stryker ABGII or Rejuvenate, and have not yet undergone revision surgery, it could be beneficial to speak to an experienced Stryker attorney regarding your situation. It is extremely important that you not inadvertently give up any of your rights, and that you try to receive the best settlement amount possible. These dangerous hip devices have resulted in devastating consequences to those implanted with the devices and their families, and it is important to do everything you can to protect your interests as you pursue compensation for your injuries.