Stryker Hip Settlement Alert for Columbia, South Carolina 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.

Potential Stryker ABGII Hip Dangers

Stryker Orthopedics is one of the largest surgical device companies with estimated yearly revenues of $9 billion. While Stryker also manufactures knee implants what they may be more well-known for is the Stryker ABGII and Rejuvenate hip recall. The Stryker ABGII hip dangers are many. Shortly after the aggressive marketing launch of the Stryker ABGII in early 2010, patients and surgeons alike submitted adverse event reports to the FDA detailing these dangers. Patients with a Stryker ABGII or a Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant are subject to Stryker ABGII hip metallosis, chromium and cobalt hip poisoning, synovitis, ALVAL and the development of pseudo-tumors.

Stryker claimed both models would be safer and longer-lasting for younger, more active patients. The devices were constructed of two sections, one manufactured with cobalt and chromium, the other titanium. Because Stryker used a ceramic ball, it was believed the devices would not suffer the same metallosis and metal poisoning issues as other metal on metal hip implants, unfortunately this turned out not to be true. The Stryker ABGII and Rejuvenate were found to experience fretting and corrosion at the metal neck/stem junction, leading to the release of excess metal ion debris.

Further, small metal trunnions located at either end of the neck portion were found to trap body fluids, leading to further corrosion. Stryker claimed the ABGII modular neck hip system would provide patients with stability because the stem followed the contours of the patient’s femur. Stryker also claimed the ABGII and Rejuvenate were highly customizable, offering a variety of stems and necks in varying lengths. This allowed the surgeon to fit the implant device to the patient’s size and level of activity.

Columbia, South Carolina Hip Metallosis Lawsuits

Just this week, a settlement was reached in approximately half of the 4,000 Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII lawsuits. This settlement covered only those who underwent Stryker Rejuvenate hip revision surgery or Stryker ABGII hip revision surgery by November 2, 2014, and apportioned approximately $300,000 to each of these patients, subject to adjustments based on the level of injury and whether the patient had undergone multiple revision surgeries.

DePuy settled approximately 7,000 out of more than 11,000 ASR lawsuits in late 2013 for $2.5 billion. The Pinnacle lawsuits have reached more than 5,400, and only one has settled, in late October, 2014 in favor of the defendant. The remaining Pinnacle trials will be set for bellwether trials and mediation. The Pinnacle has not been recalled and DePuy has continued to maintain the safety of the device.

Causes of DePuy ASR Hip Metal Debris

When patients with a DePuy ASR hip implant are active, the metal components of the device rub against one another, causing tiny metal particles to shave away from the device and enter the body. The body sees these cobalt and chromium ions as foreign bodies and sends white blood cells to fight the intruder. Of course, this is impossible, therefore the immune system becomes weakened as it continues to try to expel the metal ions. When the metal ion debris enters the bloodstream, DePuy ASR hip chromium and cobalt poisoning can occur. When metal ion debris burrows into the hip tissues, DePuy ASR hip metallosis can occur. Patients can experience extremely serious, adverse health issues associated with metallosis and metal poisoning, and in some cases these symptoms may not disappear, even after DePuy ASR hip revision surgery.

How DePuy Pinnacle Hip Chromium and Cobalt Poisoning May Affect You

If the tiny metal shards enter your bloodstream, you could develop symptoms of DePuy Pinnacle hip chromium and cobalt poisoning such as: DNA alterations, reproductive disorders, the development of pseudo-tumors, cardiovascular disorders, neurological disorders, renal and thyroid disorders, gastrointestinal issues, asthma and other respiratory disorders, irritability, depression, anxiety, short-term memory loss, deterioration or loss of vision and hearing, vertigo, changes in taste, the development of some types of cancer, tremors, seizures and convulsions, liver necrosis, chronic headaches and decline of cognitive functions.

When Stryker ABGII Hip Metallosis Results in Total Hip Failure

Cobalt and chromium ions which enter the hip tissues can result in symptoms of Stryker ABGII hip metallosis such as inflammation, chronic and severe pain in the hip, groin and thigh areas, deterioration and death of hip tissues and bone, total failure of the hip implant and the necessity for the patient to undergo Stryker ABGII hip revision surgery. If you are the recipient of a Stryker ABGII hip implant, you must be aware of the Columbia, South Carolina Stryker ABGII hip statute of limitations which limits the amount of time you have to file a product liability lawsuit.

In the state of South Carolina, plaintiffs are allowed three years from the date the injury occurred in which to file suit against the manufacturer in a product liability case. These statutes can be somewhat complex, therefore it could be to your advantage to speak to a Columbia, South Carolina hip metallosis lawyer who should be able to properly determine how much time you have to file a hip metallosis claim.