July 18, 2014 - The Stryker hip recall which occurred on July 3, 2012, has affected as many as 20,000 people; if you are among those affected, you may have experienced serious, adverse health effects. Even if you have not experience ill effects from the Stryker Rejuvenate, you may have a higher risk for developing such problems than those with other types of metal hip implants. Depending on which research you believe, the Stryker hip failure rates could be anywhere from 12%, to as high as 50-65%. Many patients have developed Stryker hip metallosis, Stryker hip blood poisoning, Stryker hip pseudotumors and Stryker hip infection. Unlike other metal-on-metal hip implants, the Stryker Rejuvenate uses a ceramic ball rather than a metal ball, however metal ion release has been seen in patients at the neck juncture of the Rejuvenate.
Metal Toxicity and Metallosis Resulting from the Stryker Rejuvenate
When metal ions shear away from the implant, they can travel into the bloodstream causing metal toxicity, or can lodge in the hip tissues, leading to severe inflammation, chronic pain, the degeneration of bone and tissue, hip failure and the necessity of Stryker Rejuvenate Revision Surgery. Chromium and cobalt poisoning can lead to such serious medical issues as: neurological, renal, thyroid, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders, certain types of cancers, the loss of hearing and vision, skin rashes, chronic headaches, reproductive disorders, the development of Stryker hip pseudotumors, changes in DNA, fatigue and poor concentration, irritability, depression and anxiety.
Should You File a Stryker Hip Lawsuit?
Since the recall, over 2,000 lawsuits have been filed against Stryker. It is expected that many more will follow, as the statute of limitations grows near for many states. On May 9th, a pre-trial order was issued indicating the early test cases will be divided into five separate categories. Four categories are for those who received a Stryker Rejuvenate and one for those who received a Stryker ABGII implant. Within the Rejuvenate categories, the lawsuits will be divided between plaintiffs who received their implant before or after January 1, 2011, and whether the revision was complicated or uncomplicated. Judge Frank, the judge in the Minnesota cases, is restricting the upcoming bellwether cases to those who have undergone revision surgery to have the Rejuvenate implant removed. Judge Frank has also established procedures allowing plaintiffs who are currently suffering serious health issues related to their Rejuvenate implant to preserve their testimony—in the even they become too incapacitated to attend their own trial.
The judge in the New Jersey cases, Judge Martinotti, established a mediation process for those with a recalled Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant, to determine whether settlements could be reached, avoiding lengthy and expensive litigation. The first phase of these mediation cases contained ten cases; eight of those were successfully resolved as reported in late February. The second round of mediation has resulted in two cases being successfully resolved; this second round involved many patients over the age of 78. If you have suffered serious health problems due to your Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant, it is in your best interests to speak to a knowledgeable Stryker hip attorney regarding whether your case qualifies for a Stryker hip lawsuit. Further, if you have received a Stryker hip Broadspire letter, you should definitely speak to a Stryker hip lawyer prior to signing the letter—or signing anything else, for that matter.