August 03, 2017 - If you are one of the many people harmed by a recalled Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII hip implant, you may have many questions about your future. More than 20,000 of the devices were sold prior to the recall in July 2012. After the recall, thousands of lawsuits were filed against Stryker for the injuries related to the devices. Some patients developed Stryker hip pseudotumors, chromium and cobalt blood poisoning, Stryker hip metallosis, Stryker hip infection and other Stryker hip side effects after being implanted with a recalled Stryker device.
A large number of these patients were forced to undergo Stryker Rejuvenate revision surgery after their device loosened, causing inflammation, pain, or destruction of tissue and bone. Other patients, after suffering serious symptoms of metal poisoning, had to have their Rejuvenate removed in order to stop the buildup of cobalt and chromium in their system. As the metal components of the Rejuvenate rub against one another during periods of activity, tiny metal ions shear away from the device, burrowing into the hip tissues or entering the bloodstream.
Difficulties Associated with the Stryker Rejuvenate Revision Surgery - Those who underwent Stryker Rejuvenate revision surgery may have been eligible to take part in the Stryker hip settlement agreement, reached in November 2014. If you have suffered injury as a result of a Rejuvenate device, but have not had revision surgery, there are certain things you must do before you undergo the complex revision surgery. Removal of the Rejuvenate has its own set of difficulties, with a 2.5 percent mortality rate as compared to a 1 percent mortality rate for the original implant surgery.
The Rejuvenate revision surgery can last as long as 4-5 hours, leading to an increased risk of infection, blood loss and nerve damage. The Rejuvenate revision surgery can cost upwards of $200,000, and requires a minimum of six weeks’ recovery time, making it difficult for many patients to get that amount of time off. The Rejuvenate has an exceptionally long neck piece which must be removed with a special modular neck extractor which uses a locking arm to engage the taper, pushing the stem from the femur. In some cases, the patient’s femur can shatter during this procedure, requiring the patient to spend time in a wheelchair until the femur can be rebuilt. Other patients, while needing Stryker Rejuvenate revision surgery are not medically able to undergo the surgery. This could be related to age or another medical issue, but whatever the reason, the patient could be forced to live in pain, along with the symptoms of metal toxicity which increase as the levels of metal ions build up in the bloodstream.
Getting Help from an Experienced Stryker Hip Attorney - If you have not yet undergone Stryker Rejuvenate revision surgery, what do you need to know? First and foremost, in order to protect your rights and your future, speak with an experienced Stryker Hip Injury Attorney. A well-qualified Stryker Hip Injury Attorney should be able to clearly lay out your options, and to potentially assist you in finding a highly qualified orthopedic surgeon. Only a small percentage of Orthopedic Surgeons is qualified to perform a Stryker Rejuvenate revision surgery, and those surgeons with the most revisions under their belt are the most qualified. You will need to make preparations for an extended recovery, and will need to fully understand your options for recovery from Stryker for your revision surgery.