Stryker Hip Settlement Alert for Buffalo, New York Residents - there has been a 1.4 billion dollar settlement in the Stryker Hip Implant MDL. Please take the time to get fully informed about the Stryker Master Settlement Agreement.

DePuy ASR Hip Recall

The DePuy ASR hip recall occurred in August, 2010, after the FDA received numerous adverse event reports from consumers and physicians alike regarding harm suffered by the ASR. Prior to the DePuy ASR hip recall the National Joint Registry of England reported that DePuy ASR patients could expect a failure rate of about 13% within the first five years. In 2011, the organization updated these findings, increasing the number to 33%. DePuy was conducting internal research of its own during this same time period. The FDA also raised concerns associated with the DePuy ASR in 2009, however Johnson & Johnson continued to sell the hip implant. Ultimately, a higher than normal failure rate of the DePuy ASR helped lead to its recall.

DePuy Pinnacle Hip Dangers

While the DePuy Pinnacle has many of the same issues as the ASR, these DePuy Pinnacle hip dangers have not led to a recall of the implant. Some of the DePuy Pinnacle hip dangers include the development of DePuy Pinnacle hip metallosis and chromium and cobalt poisoning. The Pinnacle gained FDA approval in 2000, and was used with a plastic or metal liner. The metal liner was pulled from the market and is no longer in use. After numerous complaints were received regarding the Pinnacle the taper was shortened and grooves added in 2004. Unlike the ASR, the Pinnacle is attached with screws. The DePuy Pinnacle hip dangers were increased when DePuy changed the size of the Pinnacle head, making it larger. The Pinnacle is estimated to have failure rates of at least 12% after five years.

Stryker ABGII Hip Metallosis

When the metal components of a metal on metal hip implant rub against one another, the patient can experience Stryker ABGII hip metallosis. In medical terms, metallosis is defined as aseptic fibrosis or macroscopic staining of the soft tissues associated with abnormal wear. This excess wear causes tiny metal ions to shear away during periods of activity on the part of the patient. This activity can be nothing more strenuous than walking. The cobalt and chromium ions inject themselves into the hip tissues, causing chronic and sometimes severe pain for the patient. This pain can be located in the hip, the groin or the thigh—or all three. The patient will also experience significant levels of inflammation, and the tissue and bone may experience degradation and even tissue death. In some cases of Stryker ABGII hip metallosis, the hip may fail completely, and the patient may be forced to undergo Stryker ABGII hip revision surgery.

Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Chromium and Cobalt Poisoning

Physicians are unclear as to why some people may react much more strongly to heavy metals in the body while others appear to have a high tolerance for the chromium and cobalt ions. Metal sensitivity is essentially an allergic reaction to the heavy metals, leading the immune system to multiply its efforts to rid itself of the metal shards. Stryker Rejuvenate hip chromium and cobalt poisoning occurs when the cobalt and chromium ions continue to flood the bloodstream, making it impossible for the kidneys to effectively rid itself of the ions. Patients can experience such symptoms as gastrointestinal disorders, renal and thyroid disorders, cardiovascular and neurological disorders, loss of hearing and vision, depression, irritability, anxiety, short-term memory loss, vertigo, changes in taste, DNA alterations, the development of pseudo-tumors, reproductive disorders, the development of certain types of cancers, skin rashes and respiratory disorders.  

Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Revision Surgery

When you have developed serious symptoms of Stryker Rejuvenate hip metallosis or metal poisoning, or if your hip has failed entirely, your surgeon may recommend Stryker Rejuvenate hip metal revision surgery. All revision surgeries are more complex than the original hip implant surgery, requiring the patient to spend a longer amount of time on the operating table. This can lead to excessive amounts of bleeding, infection and nerve damage. Further, the Stryker stem component is extremely long, and is implanted deeply within the femur during the original hip implantation. At the time of the Stryker Rejuvenate hip revision surgery, the surgeon must literally dig the stem out of the femur, and, in some cases, hip fractures can occur. The recovery time for Stryker Rejuvenate hip revision surgery can be as long as six weeks, requiring the patient to be away from work for an extended period of time.

Buffalo, New York Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Statute of Limitations

The statutes of limitations dictate the amount of time you have in which to file a product liability lawsuit. The time varies between states, and in the state of New York, action must be brought within three years of the date the injury occurs. While the Buffalo, New York Stryker Rejuvenate hip statute of limitations seems fairly straightforward, there are many factors involved in determining just when your injury occurred. Perhaps you suffered adverse health issues after implantation of your Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant but were unaware they were tied to the metal hip device. Perhaps you have not yet experienced any adverse health effects associated with your Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant, however based on the failure rates, you could have such problems in the future.Statutes of Limitations are complex, and only a well-qualified hip metallosis attorney can properly determine how much time you may have to file your claim.

Buffalo, New York Hip Metallosis Lawsuits

DePuy faced over 11,000 lawsuits regarding the recalled ASR. Toward the end of 2013 DePuy and Johnson & Johnson settled approximately 7,000 of these lawsuits for $2.5 billion. Johnson & Johnson and DePuy also face over 5,400 lawsuits related to the Pinnacle hip device. One of these lawsuits went to trial in October and a decision was made in favor of the defendant. Stryker faces over 2,300 lawsuits associated with the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII. Seventeen of those lawsuits were settled through mediation for an undisclosed amount, and bellwether trials, mediation and trials are being set for the remainder.

Buffalo, New York Hip Recall Lawyer