April 15, 2016 - Are you one of the thousands of patients who received a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII hip implant, only to find you later developed any number of health issues associated with the recalled hip devices? Stryker hip metallosis occurs when the device corrodes, leading to tiny metal ions shearing away from the implant, burrowing in surrounding hip tissues or traveling to the bloodstream. Symptoms of Stryker hip metallosis include inflammation, pain in the hip, thigh or groin, deterioration or necrosis of the bone and tissue, loosening of the implant and the need for revision surgery.
Stryker hip blood poisoning can also cause many serious, adverse health issues, including loss of vision and hearing, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, thyroid and neurological disorders, skin rashes, vertigo, DNA disruptions, reproductive disorders, irritability, depression and anxiety, and even short-term memory loss. Stryker hip pseudotumors can develop in patients with a Stryker metal hip, resulting in the necessity of Stryker ABGII revision surgery or Stryker Rejuvenate revision surgery.
The Serious Nature of Infection
Infections among Stryker Rejuvenate hip patients are also a serious issue. Infection occurs with no warning, infecting the joint at the time of the surgery, or even weeks or years later. The patients may first notice the infection when the hip area becomes inflamed and painful. A formerly well-functioning joint can suddenly become stiff. Infection results when bacteria enters the body through a break or cut in the skin. Additional symptoms of infection in the hip region can include warmth and redness around the wound, drainage from the wound, night sweats, fever, chills and unusual fatigue. Those with immune deficiencies, diabetes, vascular disease or those who are obese or taking immunosuppressive treatments are more likely to develop an infection following implantation of a metal hip. Immunosuppressive treatments can include corticosteroids or chemotherapy.
Infection and Stryker Revision Surgery
Treating infection can be difficult in a person with a metal hip implant; most surgeons will want to ensure the infection is under control prior to putting the patient through revision surgery. Revision surgery tends to be much more complex than the original implantation surgery. The revision surgery can last several hours, placing the patient at a greater risk for infection, blood loss and nerve damage. Due to this greater risk of infection during revision surgery, any infection prior to revision surgery must be well-contained. Among patients with an antibiotic sensitivity, getting the infection under control can be even more difficult. If the infection is severe enough to cause deterioration of the bone and tissue, re-building of the bone may be necessary during revision surgery.
The Stryker hip failure rates are uncertain; Stryker has not put a precise number on the failure rates, although some studies place the number as high as 40 percent or more. Following the Stryker hip recall, thousands of patients filed a Stryker hip lawsuit; the thousands of lawsuits eventually led to the Stryker hip settlement agreement for those who had undergone revision surgery. In order to determine whether you are eligible to participate in the Stryker hip settlement agreement or whether you should file a lawsuit for your Stryker injuries, speak to an experienced Stryker hip attorney.