February 17, 2016 - Following the Stryker hip settlement agreement which took place in early November, 2014, many Stryker patients may have felt they were being left out of the agreement. According to the terms of the agreement, only those patients who had undergone Stryker ABGII revision surgery or Stryker Rejuvenate revision surgery were eligible to participate in the Stryker hip settlement agreement. In some cases, Stryker patients who needed revision surgery, but were medically too fragile to undergo the surgery were potentially also eligible for a settlement amount under the agreement. Patients who had filed Stryker cases, but had not undergone revision surgery were exempted from the agreement, however Stryker did agree to suspend the statute of limitations, meaning those who later had revision surgery could be eligible to take part in the settlement agreement.
The Dilemma for Those with an Unrevised Stryker Hip Implant
Those who received a Stryker Rejuvenate or a Stryker ABGII were likely dismayed to hear of the Stryker recall in July, 2012. Many of these patients had already experienced serious Stryker hip side effects from their Rejuvenate or ABGII. These side effects included Stryker hip blood poisoning, Stryker hip metallosis, Stryker hip pseudotumor(s) and chromium and cobalt blood poisoning. For some these side effects were so severe, they were forced to undergo Stryker revision surgery. Other patients whose levels of cobalt and chromium were not yet above the “acceptable” level, or those who had experienced no real health problems at the time of the settlement were left with a serious dilemma.
Failure Rate of the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII
The failure rates of the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII are believed to be quite high, although Stryker has declined to offer a precise number. Some doctors believe that as many as half of the 20,000 Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII devices currently implanted in patients could fail, possibly even more. This makes the decision of whether to undergo revision surgery, if no ill health effects have been experienced, that much more difficult, since the odds the device will fail are, apparently, so high. Because of the serious nature of this issue, it is highly advisable that those with a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII implant speak to their physician, then to a Stryker hip lawyer as soon as possible. With such high Stryker hip failure rates, even those who have experienced no problems at this juncture, could well do so in the future.
Speak to Your Physician and a Stryker Hip Lawyer As Soon as Possible
Your physician can help you determine whether your current level of Stryker problems warrant a Stryker ABGII revision surgery or a Stryker Rejuvenate revision surgery, or if you should risk developing such serious Stryker hip side effects as chromium and cobalt blood poisoning. Stryker hip blood poisoning can lead to vision and hearing disturbances, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, kidney and thyroid disorders, chronic headaches, vertigo, muscle atrophy, reproductive disorders, alterations in DNA, the development of pseudotumors, seizures and convulsions, and anxiety, depression and irritability. In the end, whether you decide to proceed with revision surgery or not, you definitely need to have a case on file so you can possibly receive settlement money should you undergo revision surgery at a later date. Don’t wait to take care of this important issue—speak to a Stryker hip lawyer today.