Understandably, recipients of the Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII hip implant device are concerned about the release of chromium and cobalt following corrosion of the implant. Those who watched the movie “Erin Brockovich” may recall that hexavalent chromium was found in the drinking water of a small town in California turning out to be an extremely toxic substance, causing cancer and other serious diseases.

For those in the state of Washington who have received a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII hip implant and have subsequently experienced adverse health issues, speaking with a Stryker Hip Attorney could well be the most important decision to be made. Of course protecting your health is your number one priority, and any unusual symptoms should be immediately reported to your doctor. Regular blood tests to test your levels of cobalt and chromium as well as x-rays, MRIs and CT scans are necessary to determine whether you have experienced metal toxicity or hip failure. The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII were both recalled in July, 2012, only a few short years after gaining FDA approval.

 

While the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII are very similar in design, they do have a few very important differences, namely the length of the stem and the HA ingrowth coating used on the stem. These differences mean that the ABGII is not nearly as difficult to remove during a revision surgery as the Rejuvenate. The stem of the Rejuvenate is longer and is placed deeply within the femur during implantation. When the stem must be removed, in many cases it must literally be dug out of the bone

Those who have been implanted with a recalled Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII hip implant device may wonder “How fast will my metal levels drop after my hip is removed?” While making the decision to have revision surgery is never an easy one, those who have tested high levels of cobalt and chromium and have suffered the ill effects of metal toxicity will likely want the source of those high metal levels removed.

 

Thousands of innocent patients have been forced to undergo hip replacement surgery after their metal-on-metal hip implant failed or caused symptoms of metal toxicity. The primary question on the minds of these victims may well be--How do I know if my Stryker hip was recalled? While many of those who received a Stryker ABGII or Rejuvenate received a letter from the manufacturer informing them of the recall in July, 2012, there are those who received no notification. Medical device manufacturers do not typically know exactly which patients have been implanted with their hip devices, they know only which hospitals and doctors order their implants.