Those who have suffered serious adverse health symptoms from their Stryker recalled Rejuvenate or ABGII may have valid concerns and wonder “Should I get my Stryker hip removed?” While on the surface this may seem like a simple choice to make, the reality can be a different story. Removing the Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII is not a simple process. When the stem of these Stryker hip devices is implanted, it is buried deeply within the femur. Following the surgery the patient’s bone is meant to grow snugly around the stem. Unfortunately, should the patient begin having issues with the Stryker hip implant, removal comes with many more potential risks than with most other types of metal hip implants.

Stryker’s Rejuvenate hip implant was recalled in July 2012 along with the ABGII. At the time of the Stryker Rejuvenate recall, the company stated a heightened risk of fretting and corrosion, leading to the release of metal ions into surrounding hip tissue and the bloodstream

Both the Stryker Rejuvenate and Stryker ABGII hip Stryker implant devices were recalled on July 6, 2012 after demonstrating an increased likelihood of fretting and corrosion which can lead tiny metal ions to flake away from the device, ending up in the surrounding hip tissue or the bloodstream.

The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII hip implant devices are constructed using a titanium stem coated with a proprietary blend of titanium, molybdenum, zirconium and iron. Those alloys are mixed with a plasma spray which Stryker claimed would cure the issues associated with mixing cobalt and chromium with titanium. This coating was believed to resist fretting and corrosion, however research indicates fretting and corrosion continued to occur despite the coating. Once corrosion occurs, metal ions are released into the body.

The modular components of the Stryker Rejuvenate consist of various head dimensions and modular neck orientations. These attach through a Morse taper, allowing for variability in leg length and offset. The Morse taper is a slightly angular junction on either end of the hip implant components which the surgeon taps into the stem until it is locked tightly.