Stryker Hip Metallosis and the Stryker Hip Settlement Agreement

January 27, 2015 - Perhaps you have suffered harm from a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII hip implant. The devices received FDA approval in 2008 and 2009, but were not actively marketed until early 2010. Stryker touted the devices as being well-suited to the younger, more active crowd, claiming they were much safer than other metal-on-metal hip implants due to the use of a ceramic ball rather than a metal ball. It was believed there would not be the same issues as all-metal hip implants had suffered, such as the release of excessive amounts of cobalt and chromium ions, leading to metallosis and metal poisoning. When the metal parts of a hip implant rub against one another, tiny metal ions shear away from the device.

These metal ions may stop at the hip tissues, leading to metallosis symptoms, or may find their way to the bloodstream, causing symptoms of cobalt and chromium poisoning or toxicity. At the time of the Stryker hip recall in July, 2012, Stryker stated the ABGII and the Rejuvenate had a higher-than-normal failure rate and were subject to fretting and corrosion, leading the release of excess metal ion debris. Although the devices did not release metal ions from the friction between the metal ball and cup, it was found that significant levels of cobalt and chromium ions were releasing from the neck/stem juncture. Corrosion was also found beneath the small metal trunnions located on either end of the neck portion.

Medically speaking, metallosis is defined as aseptic fibrosis or local necrosis due to the metal corrosion from the metal hip implant. When the metallic debris begins to accumulate in the soft tissues, the human body marshalling its defenses and attempts to dispel the ions. Special white blood cells attack the metal shards, however it is impossible to obliterate the cobalt and chromium shards. The longer these ions remain in the body, the more damage will likely occur. The primary symptoms associated with metallosis include the following:

·         Pain in the groin, hip and thigh areas;

·         Severe inflammation;

·         Deterioration of the hip tissues and bone;

·         Tissue and bone death;

·         Hip failure, and

·         The necessity of Stryker hip revision surgery.

The Stryker Master Settlement Agreement

Over 4,000 patients harmed by a recalled Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII hip implant filed lawsuits against the company after the recall occurred. Stryker, in an attempt to settle at least a portion of these lawsuits has submitted a Stryker Master Settlement Agreement which covers those patients who have undergone revision surgery in order to remove a defective Stryker implant. These patients must qualify under the provisions of the agreement—those who do qualify will receive a base award of $300,000 with enhancements, reductions and caps according to the patient’s individual circumstances.