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.
The Problems Associated With the Recalled Stryker Hip Implants
When the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII were recalled in July, 2012, Stryker stated the potential risks of fretting and corrosion. When the implant device suffers such corrosion or fretting, tiny pieces of metal can shear away, landing in the surrounding tissues or traveling into the bloodstream. Those shards which burrow into the hip tissues can cause severe inflammation, chronic pain, and loss or destruction of bone and tissue. In turn, these issues can cause the implant to loosen, eventually failing completely. Even if the Stryker implant remains relatively secure, the microscopic metal pieces may travel to the bloodstream causing symptoms of metal toxicity such as gastrointestinal, neurological, cardiovascular, renal and thyroid issues, a decrease in vision or hearing, vertigo, disruption and changes in DNA, the development of pseudo-tumors, irritability, anxiety, depression and skin disorders.
These symptoms of metal toxicity will not subside and will, in fact, continue to worsen as the levels of cobalt and chromium in the patient’s body steadily rise. The only way to halt the progression of metal toxicity is to remove the Stryker metal hip implant, yet there still may be hesitation on the part of Stryker implant patients. A device known as a Modular Neck Extractor is used to pry the neck portion of the Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII away from the stem piece. Next, a Modular Stem Extractor will engage the stem taper, attempting to pull the stem from the femur bone. In some cases this step causes the femur bone to shatter which, in turn, can force the patient to go home in a wheelchair without a new hip while the surgeon waits for the femur to begin healing.
Recovery Time for Stryker Hip Revision Surgery Patients
Even in cases where the extraction of the stem goes relatively smoothly, recovery times for this Stryker revision surgery can be as long as six weeks-considerably longer than the recovery time for the initial implant procedure. During this recovery time many patients lose their jobs or, at the very least are without a paycheck for a considerable length of time. Medical expenses can be huge for the revision surgery therefore revision may not even be an option for those without medical insurance. Even those with good health insurance may find their portion of the expenses to be prohibitive. Those who are unable to perform even the simplest day-to-day tasks following the revision surgery could be required to hire someone to assist them—yet another cost associated with the Stryker revision surgery. The decision to have a Stryker hip removed can be a difficult one, and will likely require the counsel of your physician, family, and closest advisors.