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.
What Caused the Stryker ABGII and Rejuvenate Recall?
Although the United States does not have a database for hip implants like many other countries, it is believed that over 20,000 of these recalled devices were marketed to the public with the majority of those being implanted. It also appears that a number of these Stryker devices were implanted in Washington. It is likely there are other concentrations of the recalled hip implants across the U.S. as well. Stryker stated a higher-than-normal risk of fretting and corrosion as the reason for the recall; that fretting and corrosion at the metal neck juncture can lead to inflammation, pain, tissue and bone necrosis and metal toxicity. When the implant suffers corrosion, tiny metal ions of cobalt and chromium are released into the body. These ions will either make their way to the bloodstream or will embed into the hip tissue. When bone and tissue deterioration have reached a certain level, it is likely hip revision surgery will be necessary.
Speak to a Stryker Hip Attorney Prior to Speaking with Stryker or Broadspire
A Stryker hip attorney can ensure your rights are fully protected and that you do not go over the statute of limitations set forth in your state of Washington. Broadspire, a third-party risk-management company for large insurance companies and employers will be managing the Stryker recall. Any offer by Broadspire on behalf of Stryker to pay for a patient’s revision surgery is simply not enough for those victims of a flawed implant design who have had their entire life disrupted and their health damaged. Because the new, innovative Stryker design of the ABGII and Rejuvenate were marketed primarily to younger, more active patients, an offer to only pay for revision surgery hardly seems adequate. Further, those in Washington without a qualified Stryker hip attorney by their side could inadvertently sign away their legal rights, putting their future at risk.
Stryker Lawsuits and Getting the Help You Need
Presently there are over 150 lawsuits filed against Stryker for harm suffered by patients implanted with the Rejuvenate or ABGII. It is likely that number will continue to rise sharply in the coming year. Although Stryker placed the failure rate of the recalled hip implants at around 12%, other studies place that number considerably higher. This means that even those patients who have not yet suffered symptoms of metal toxicity or hip implant failure stand a good chance of experiencing one or both within the next few years.