Stryker Hip Settlement Alert for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Residents - there has been a 1.4 billion dollar settlement in the Stryker Hip Implant MDL. Please take the time to get fully informed about the Stryker Master Settlement Agreement.

Various Causes of Stryker Rejuvenate and Stryker ABGII Hip Metal Debris

If you have been implanted with a metal hip device, you may have suffered Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII hip dangers and the release of Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII hip metal debris. Metal hip implants, and, in particular, the Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant and the Stryker ABGII hip implant were marketed toward the younger, more active patient. It was thought at the time that these metal hip implants would not only last much longer but that they were safe as well.

When patients with metal hip implants engage in physical activities-even something as simple as walking—the metal components of the hip implant can rub against one another, causing microscopic cobalt and chromium ions to shear away from the device, landing in the hip tissues or making their way to the bloodstream. Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII hip dangers can include metallosis, metal poisoning, synovitis, ALVAL and the development of pseudo-tumors as well as loosening of the implant. 

How You May Have Been Affected by the DePuy ASR Hip Recall

The DePuy ASR hip recall was issued in August, 2010, after more than 400 adverse event reports were sent to the FDA. The DePuy Pinnacle was not recalled, although the metal liner used with the Pinnacle was pulled from the market in 2013. The DePuy ASR gained FDA approval based on its similarity to the Pinnacle, but the Pinnacle was not recalled. Along with the DePuy ASR and the DePuy Pinnacle, the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII, the Biomet M2A Magnum, the Smith & Nephew R3, the Wright Conserve THS and Profemur, and the Zimmer Durom metal hip implants have also been associated with metallosis.

The Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII Hip Recalls

Two years later, in July, 2012, the Stryker Rejuvenate hip recall and the Stryker ABGII hip recall were issued, after an Urgent Field Safety Notification was sent to hospitals and surgeons three months earlier. The FDA also received more than 300 adverse event reports regarding the ABGII and the Rejuvenate. Stryker noted a higher-than-normal rate of failure for both models, as well as corrosion and fretting at the neck/stem junction, which in turn caused the excessive release of cobalt and chromium ions into the body.

Have You Developed Symptoms of DePuy Pinnacle Hip Metallosis?

When cobalt and chromium ions stop at the hip tissues, metallosis can occur. Metallosis is also known as aseptic fibrosis and local necrosis. The body sees these metal shards as intruders and sends special white blood cells to eradicate them. Unfortunately, the body is unable to get rid of the cobalt and chromium ions, and the immune system can exhaust itself from trying to do so. The patient may experience pain in the groin, hip or thigh area, significant amounts of inflammation, deterioration or death of bone and tissue, loosening of the device, and the necessity for the patient to undergo DePuy Pinnacle hip revision surgery.

Physicians are unclear as to why some patients react much more strongly to relatively low levels of cobalt and chromium in the body, while others exhibit few symptoms even when testing at extremely high levels of these heavy metals. It appears that those with a sensitivity to metals may be at a greater risk for developing hip metallosis and/or hip chromium and cobalt poisoning.

The Potential Symptoms of Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII Hip Chromium and Cobalt Poisoning

When the cobalt and chromium ions enter the bloodstream and begin to build up, symptoms of Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII hip chromium and cobalt poisoning can occur. While most people are more familiar with cobalt poisoning symptoms, chromium poisoning can be equally dangerous. Symptoms attributed to Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII hip chromium and cobalt poisoning include:

·         The development of pseudo-tumors

·         Reproductive disorders

·         Neurological disorders

·         Anxiety, irritability, depression

·         Vertigo

·         Cardiovascular problems

·         Renal and thyroid disorders

·         Gastrointestinal disorders

·         Chronic headaches

·         Seizures and tremors

·         Liver necrosis

·         Respiratory disorders, including asthma

·         Short-term nerve impairment

·         Dermatitis

·         Extreme fatigue

·         Rashes and changes to skin and nails

·         Muscle atrophy

Should the symptoms of Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII hip chromium and cobalt poisoning become severe enough, Stryker Rejuvenate / ABGII hip revision surgery may become necessary. Revision surgery can be much riskier, more expensive and can result in a longer recovery period than the original hip implant surgery.

Understanding the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Stryker Hip Statute of Limitations