Unlike its all-metal counterparts, the Stryker Rejuvenate has a much smaller metal surface area which can corrode and lead to metal ions being released into the body, however the eventual harmful effects of the Rejuvenate can be just as serious. In the
metal-on-metal hip implant such as the DePuy ASR or Pinnacle, a metal ball and acetabular cup can rub against one another, leading tiny metal particles to shear away, becoming lodged in the surrounding tissue or entering the bloodstream. These particles of cobalt and chromium can eventually lead to metal poisoning as well as to tissue damage, bone loss, chronic pain and the complete failure of the hip implant.
The Rejuvenate implements a ceramic ball, however when it was recalled in July, 2012, Stryker officials indicated corrosion could occur at the neck juncture. It was later found that metal trunnions, located at either end of the neck piece, could trap body fluids underneath and corrode as well. Any corrosion can lead to shards of cobalt and chromium entering the body. Because of the smaller metal surface areas, it is likely that a blood test for cobalt and chromium will not show the higher levels seen in recipients of all-metal implants; however each body will react differently to cobalt and chromium in the body. A person with relatively low levels may experience severe side effects and symptoms while a person whose test shows dangerously high levels of cobalt and chromium may have few, if any symptoms. In either case, there is no truly “safe” level of cobalt and chromium in the human body.
While the definitions of what level is “acceptable” differs, some scientists believe anything above 7 parts per billion is dangerous, while others put that number at anything above 5 parts per billion. Some doctors believe that any level over 2 parts per billion can be dangerous and lead to health issues. A healthy person has approximately 0.5 parts per billion of naturally-occurring cobalt and chromium in the body. The bottom line with the Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant is that if corrosion has occurred, either at the trunnion locations or at the neck juncture, then dangerous metal ions have been released into the body. The tolerance levels of the Rejuvenate are much lower as the numbers are coming from a joint which is not supposed to experience wear, therefore a number a slow as 3 could be cause for revision surgery in a Rejuvenate recipient while numbers from 7-10 may not prompt revision in all-metal implant recipients.
Those with a Stryker Rejuvenate who continue to experience pain three months following the initial hip replacement surgery or those whose pain worsens are likely experiencing some level of corrosion. Corrosion and toxic metals in the body are both unsolvable issues; the only way to stop the cobalt and chromium levels from continuing to increase is to have the Rejuvenate removed in a revision surgery that many doctors consider risky, not to mention very expensive.
Cobalt and chromium in the body can affect the functioning of the kidneys, cause neurological and cardiovascular damage, loss of vision and hearing, DNA disruption, thyroid issues and a whole host of less serious symptoms including depression, anxiety, chronic headaches, vertigo, gastrointestinal and skin disorders and memory loss. Joint instability, total failure of the hip implant, tissue damage or death and constant pain are all potential side effects of the Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant system. In the end, nearly any increase in cobalt and chromium levels in your body can be potentially dangerous. It’s important that you have regular blood tests as well as other tests recommended by your doctor if you have the recalled Rejuvenate hip implant.