Stryker Hip Settlement Alert for Washington, D.C. 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.

How the Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Recall Could Affect You: The Stryker Corporation markets over 57,000 products globally, generating over $8 billion in sales in 2012 alone. Two of Stryker’s products, the Rejuvenate hip implant and the ABGII hip implant were recalled in July, 2012. The Stryker Rejuvenate hip recall barely made a blip on the radar, likely because all eyes were focused on the 2010 DePuy ASR recall which affected more than 93,000 consumers. The Stryker Rejuvenate hip recall affected a much smaller group, less than 20,000. Following the DePuy ASR hip recall, Stryker picked up DePuy’s share of the market by introducing the Rejuvenate and ABGII, both of which were not considered “true” metal on metal hips due to the use of a ceramic ball rather than a metal ball.

The Stryker design also provided surgeons with a variety of stem and neck pieces in different lengths, allowing the surgeon to custom fit the device to the individual patient, according the patient’s size and level of activity. At the time of the Stryker Rejuvenate hip recall, Stryker noted a higher-than-normal rate of failure in both models as well as undue fretting and corrosion at the metal neck/stem junction, leading to fretting and corrosion and the release of excessive amounts of metal ion debris into the body. If you were affected by the Stryker Rejuvenate hip recall it could be time to speak to an experienced Washington, D.C. metal on metal hip lawyer regarding your options.

How Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII Hip Metal Debris Occurs: The Stryker Rejuvenate hip device was approved in mid-2008, while the ABGII received approval in November, 2009. Stryker did not aggressively market the hip devices until early 2010, when they made a serious push for younger, more active patients to consider the innovative Stryker design. Both the Rejuvenate and the ABGII gained FDA approval via the controversial 510(k) process which allows medical devices to gain fast-track approval based on their substantial similarity to another device which is already being sold. The 510(k) process requires no clinical trials.

When a patient with a metal hip is active, the metal components of the device chafe against one another, causing tiny cobalt and chromium particles to shear away, flooding the body. This hip metal debris can be responsible for Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII hip metallosis or Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII hip chromium and cobalt poisoning as well as other Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII hip dangers such as synovitis, ALVAL and the development of pseudo-tumors. 

Do You Have Symptoms of DePuy ASR Hip Metallosis? When cobalt and chromium ions lodge into the hip tissues, a patient can suffer symptoms of DePuy ASR hip metallosis. These symptoms can result in the patient having to undergo DePuy ASR hip revision surgery and can include the following: chronic and sometimes severe pain in the hip, groin and thigh areas, inflammation, tissue and bone deterioration and death and total hip failure. DePuy ASR hip metallosis symptoms may reverse after the hip device is removed during revision surgery, or the patient may have longer-lasting effects.

DePuy Pinnacle Hip Chromium and Cobalt Poisoning: When cobalt and chromium particles reach the bloodstream and begin building up, DePuy Pinnacle hip chromium and cobalt poisoning is possible. Some of the symptoms of DePuy Pinnacle hip chromium and cobalt poisoning are: the inability of the body to repair DNA, short-term nerve impairment, an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer, dermatitis and other skin conditions, the formation of pseudo-tumors, diminishment and loss of hearing and vision, asthma, shortness of breath and other respiratory issues, kidney function impairment, liver necrosis, inflammation, hypothyroidism, cardiovascular disorders including fatal cardiomyopathy, neurological disorders, poor concentration, seizures, convulsions and tremors, muscle atrophy and gastrointestinal disorders.

Other Metal Hip Chromium and Cobalt Poisoning Considerations: Because chromium poisoning can lead to kidney damage, it can be more difficult for the body to excrete the chromium which results from a metal hip implant. Chronic exposure to cobalt and chromium—such as that received by those with metal on metal hip implants—can lead to significant damage to the body. In some cases, even after hip revision surgery, this damage can remain. Whether you have a DePuy Pinnacle or ASR, a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII, or a metal hip implant from another manufacturer such as Biomet M2A Magnum, Smith & Nephew R3, Zimmer Durom or Wright Systems, a skilled Washington, D.C. hip metallosis attorney can look at the facts of your metal hip injury and give you a comprehensive assessment.

The Current Status of Washington, D.C. Hip Metallosis Litigation: Just this week, Stryker reached a settlement for a portion of the more than 4,000 Rejuvenate and ABGII lawsuits filed against the company. Patients who have undergone Stryker Rejuvenate hip revision surgery or Stryker ABGII hip revision surgery prior to November 2, 2014, are eligible to take part in this settlement. The base amount for those who are eligible is $300,000, although this amount may be adjusted up or down according to the level of injury as well as how many revision surgeries a person has undergone. The remaining Stryker hip lawsuits remain pending. In late 2013, DePuy settled approximately 7,000 of the more than 11,000 DePuy ASR cases for $2.5 billion. Finally, there are over 5,400 DePuy Pinnacle cases pending.

How a Washington, D.C. Metal on Metal Hip Attorney Can Help: If you are one of the many consumers injured by a metal hip implant, it could be helpful for you to speak to an experienced Washington, D.C. metal on metal hip attorney.