Stryker Hip Metallosis and the Onset of Headaches, Memory Loss, Vertigo, and Other Neurological Issues

July 3, 2015 - If you are a consumer who was implanted with a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII metal hip implant, then you are likely aware of the many dangers associated with these two implants. A recall was issued for the ABGII and the Rejuvenate in July, 2012, following a significant number of adverse event reports. Many of the patients had developed Stryker hip metallosis as well as symptoms of Stryker hip cobalt and chromium poisoning.

Cobalt and chromium poisoning can cause many Stryker hip dangers, including adverse issues associated with the renal, thyroid, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and neurological systems. While all these issues can be extremely serious and life-threatening, the Stryker hip neurological issues are among the worse. The following are some of the Stryker hip neurological issues many patients have faced:

·         Chronic and serious Stryker hip headaches;

·         Hearing loss;

·         Vision disturbances and loss;

·         Lack of coordination;

·         Vertigo;

·         Tremors;

·         Tinnitus;

·         Convulsions;

·         Cognitive decline;

·         Short term memory loss and more general Stryker hip memory loss;

·         Being unable to distinguish sweet and salty flavors;

·         Irritability;

·         Extreme fatigue;

·         Depression, and

·         Anxiety

Unfortunately, many Stryker hip neurological issues tend to be at least somewhat subjective, making it extremely hard for patients to convince others their symptoms are real. Some Stryker hip neurological issues can be proven objectively such as abnormal neurologic function, audiometry-confirmed hearing loss and atrophy of the optic nerve. These are generally diagnosed through the use of an EEG or EMG.

Since 2006, there have been an increasing number of reports associated with patients who developed symptoms of arthroprosthetic cobaltism after being implanted with a metal-on-metal hip (such as the Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII). Arthroprosthetic cobaltism has the potential to be a cause of impaired neuro-cognitive and sensory functions, especially among aviators. Patients who presented with hearing or vision impairment, extreme fatigue, convulsions, severe headaches and cognitive decline without exception also experienced hip pain and had cobalt concentrations higher than 60 µg/L. “Normal levels of cobalt in healthy adults is typically less than 1.0 µg/L while anything above 5.0 is generally considered toxic. 

A report from Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine followed aviators implanted with metal-on-metal hip implants such as a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII. When these aviators began experiencing visual impairment, vertigo, tinnitus, irritability, depression and fatigue, they were tested and found to have athroprosthetic cobaltism. The report concluded that since aviators are, overall, in better physical condition than the “typical” recipient of a metal-on-metal hip implant, those with these devices are at a significant risk of Stryker hip dangers, including Stryker hip neurological issues.