June 6, 2014 - If you are the recipient of a Stryker Rejuvenate, you may now be torn between the dangers of having the implant device removed and the dangers associated with keeping the device in your body. Following the Stryker hip recall in July, 2012, many of those with Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII hip implants have become increasingly worried about the dangers associated with their hip devices. At the time of the Stryker hip recall, the company noted that the Rejuvenate was prone to fretting and corrosion at the neck junction, leading to the release of cobalt and chromium ions into the body and a higher-than-normal rate of revision. A recent Stryker lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of San Francisco County in California by plaintiff Jeffrey Lomack, alleges Stryker neglected to inform the FDA of serious side effects, even after they became aware of those issues.
Chromium and Cobalt Poisoning and Stryker Hip Metallosis
Those who have a Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant may have experienced signs of cobalt and chromium poisoning or Stryker hip metallosis. When the tiny metal ions shear away from the implant, they can become lodged in the surrounding hip tissues or make their way into the bloodstream. Once the ions burrow into the hip tissue, pain, severe inflammation, loss of bone and tissue and implant failure can result. When the cobalt and chromium ions enter the bloodstream, the following adverse health issues can result:
· Loss of hearing and vision
· Gastrointestinal issues
· Vertigo
· Neurological issues
· Cardiovascular problems
· Anxiety, depression, irritability
· DNA disruption
· The development of pseudo-tumors
· Reproductive disorders
· The development of certain types of cancer
Stryker has not put an exact number on the failure rate of the Rejuvenate, however some studies have placed the number higher than 40%. It has been speculated that the Stryker hip recall could turn out to be an even bigger disaster than the DePuy ASR (which has led to over 11,000 lawsuits filed against DePuy and Johnson & Johnson). In the meantime, those with a recalled Stryker Rejuvenate have to decide whether to undergo potentially risky revision surgery or keep their Rejuvenate implant and hope for the best.
Those who have already suffered serious Rejuvenate symptoms such as chromium and cobalt poisoning or Stryker hip metallosis, may not have much difficulty making this decision. Others, who haven’t had any adverse reactions, but have a very good chance of doing so in the future, have a tougher decision. Revision surgery can cost as much as $200,000, therefore may simply not be financially feasible. Assuming you can afford the surgery, Stryker Rejuvenate revision surgery is considered both surgically complex as well as risky for the patient. Because the surgery can last many hours, there is an increased risk of infection, excessive bleeding and nerve damage.
The exceptionally long stem of the Rejuvenate must literally be dug out of the femur, resulting in femur fracture in some cases during the surgery. The recovery time for a Stryker Rejuvenate revision surgery is also lengthy—about six weeks or longer in most cases—making it difficult for those who work to take off for that length of time. This means that those with a Rejuvenate may end up choosing the lesser of two evils, depending on their individual circumstances. Keeping the Rejuvenate in could lead to bone and tissue destruction and the serious effects of metallosis and cobalt and chromium poisoning, while removing the Rejuvenate comes with its own set of issues. After speaking to a knowledgeable physician, you should consider speaking to a Stryker hip recall lawyer who can answer any legal questions you might have about your Stryker Rejuvenate implant.