January 26, 2016 - ATTENTION! Stryker Rejuvenate and Stryker ABGII metal-on-metal hip implant recipients in Rhode Island should be aware that Styrker Corporation has recently agreed to t 1.4 billion dollar settlement over these metal-on-metal hip implants...
How the Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII Hip Recalls May Have Affected You
Perhaps you are one of the more than 20,000 people who received a Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip implant, then found out the devices had been recalled. You may have even been following the recalls and lawsuits associated with other metal-on-metal hip implants, and were feeling fortunate that your metal hip implant was safer than the others. And, in fact, Stryker aggressively marketed the Rejuvenate and ABGII hip devices, claiming they were not only safer than other metal-on-metal hip implants (due to the use of a ceramic, rather than metal ball), but they were perfect for the younger, more active patient and would last much longer than any other hip implant device on the market.
Yet only months after both implants were marketed to the public, adverse event reports began coming in to the FDA from consumers and surgeons alike. Several surgeons submitted reports which noted the presence of a substance which looked like “black rust” on the Stryker implants removed from their patients. Many patients began having symptoms of Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip metallosis such as pain in the hip, groin and thigh, loss of bone and tissue, chronic inflammation of the hip and total hip failure. Other patients found they were experiencing symptoms of Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip blood toxicity when cobalt and chromium ions entered the bloodstream and began to build up. Symptoms of metal poisoning include the following:
· Diminished vision and hearing
· Vertigo, anxiety, depression, irritability, short-term memory loss
· Gastrointestinal, renal, thyroid, neurological and cardiovascular disorders
· Disruption of DNA
· The development of pseudotumors
· The development of certain types of cancers
· Reproductive disorders
· Skin rashes
The Status of the Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII Hip Lawsuits
Over 2,300 Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip lawsuits have been filed to date; the majority of those are filed as Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip multidistrict litigation in New Jersey and Minnesota. These MDL consolidations are meant to move the lawsuits forward more quickly, as when there are large numbers of personal injury claims for a dangerous device, the court dockets can become extremely clogged. Bellwether cases are currently being chosen, and will be tried in the summer of 2015. The bellwether cases are meant to be representative of larger groups of Stryker cases, and will allow all those involved in the Stryker cases to get an idea of how judges and juries will react to the information and evidence presented.
How the Rhode Island Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII Hip Statute of Limitations May Influence Your Rhode Island Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII Lawsuit
Each state has a statute of limitations which governs the length of time consumers have to file a product liability case against the manufacturer. In the state of Rhode Island, civil action must be brought within three years of the date the injury occurs. While you may feel you have plenty of time to file a Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip lawsuit, there are many variables associated with the statutes of limitations; only an experienced Rhode Island Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip lawyer can accurately determine when your particular statute will run. The Rhode Island Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip statute of limitations can be crucial to your ability to recover damages for your injuries, so don’t be complacent about the amount of time you may have. Residents of Rhode Island and in the following locales are encouraged to speak to a Rhode Island Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII hip lawyer at the earliest possible time:
· Providence, Rhode Island
· Warwick, Rhode Island
· Cranston, Rhode Island
· Pawtucket, Rhode Island
· East Providence, Rhode Island
· Woonsocket, Rhode Island
· Coventry, Rhode Island
· Cumberland, Rhode Island