“What is wrong with my Stryker hip?” This question is asked time and time again by victims of the recalled Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII. The answer to that question is likely “A variety of adverse health issues can be caused by your Stryker hip.” After only a few short years on the market, Stryker issued a recall for the Rejuvenate and ABGII citing risks of fretting and corrosion leading to early failure. Because Stryker’s newest designs implemented a ceramic ball rather than the all-metal design of other implants, it was believed to be a safer alternative. Unfortunately those beliefs did not pan out, and soon the FDA was receiving reports of adverse health issues among those implanted with a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII. The July, 2012 recall sparked a flurry of lawsuits against Stryker, many of them claiming that Stryker knew—or should have known—of the potential risks of the Rejuvenate and ABGII.
How the Stryker Hip Causes Metal Toxicity
Even though the overall metal surface area is smaller in the Rejuvenate and ABGII (due to the ceramic ball) the metal neck juncture was found to suffer undue corrosion as well as the metal trunnions located on either end of the neck juncture. Once corrosion and fretting occur, the release of metal ions follows. When these microscopic metal ions enter the surrounding hip tissue, severe inflammation, chronic pain and bone and tissue degradation and loss may all lead the implant to fail, requiring a revision surgery to replace the recalled Stryker device. Further, the metal ions entering the bloodstream can lead to metal poisoning or toxicity which comes with many more adverse health symptoms. These symptoms of cobalt and chromium poisoning can include the following:
· Gastrointestinal disorders
· Cardiovascular, renal and thyroid disorders
· Neurological disorders
· DNA disruption
· Development of pseudo-tumors
· Depression, anxiety and irritability
· Vertigo
· Memory loss
· Potential cancer risks
· Reproductive disorders
Although the ABGII and the Rejuvenate were expected to last considerably longer than the ceramic and polyethylene hip implants—from 15-20 years—revision surgery became necessary in many cases within only a few short years. While Stryker stated the failure rate of the ABGII and Rejuvenate to be approximately 12%, later reports put that number as higher, as opposed to a traditional hip implant with a failure rate of 4-5%. Revision surgery for patients with a Rejuvenate or ABGII comes with extra risks as the stem, which is buried deeply within the femur during the original surgery-can shatter during extraction.
Those patients with a recalled Stryker hip implant—whether they are yet experiencing adverse health effects or not—should speak with their physician regarding any unusual symptoms they are experiencing and should have regular blood work in order to carefully follow the progression of metal levels in the body.