Stryker Hip Settlement Alert for Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota 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.
How You May Be Affected by the Stryker Rejuvenate / Stryker ABGII Hip Recalls:
Howmedica Osteonics Corporation, operating under the name of Stryker Orthopedics instigated a Stryker Rejuvenate hip recall in July, 2012. At the same time, the company issued a Stryker ABGII hip recall. Stryker began selling both models in early 2010, after gaining FDA approval in 2008 and 2009. As early as six months after the release of the Stryker Rejuvenate, patients and surgeons were submitting adverse event reports to the FDA regarding the device. One surgeon notified the FDA that when he removed a Stryker Rejuvenate from his patient, it was covered with what appeared to be black rust. Other surgeons noted the presence of fretting and corrosion in Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII hip implants removed from patients.
Patients were experiencing symptoms of Stryker Rejuvenate hip metallosis and Stryker Rejuvenate hip chromium and cobalt hip poisoning. The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII design is significantly different from other hip implants, and is not even considered a “true” metal on metal design due to the use of a ceramic ball. Stryker claimed this difference alone would prevent the development of Stryker Rejuvenate hip metallosis and metal toxicity, however this claim turned out to be false. At the time of the Stryker Rejuvenate hip recall, the company stated the recall was due to a higher-than-normal failure rate as well as fretting and corrosion at the metal neck/stem junction.
This fretting and corrosion led to excessive metal ion debris being deposited into the bodies of patients with a Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant. The Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant as well as the Stryker ABGII hip implant also have small metal trunnions on either rend of the neck component. Following the recall, it was discovered that body fluids could become trapped under these trunnions leading to additional corrosion and metal ion debris release. If you are a victim of the Stryker Rejuvenate hip recall, it is important you set up a health exam with your physician.
Understanding the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota Stryker ABGII Hip Statute of Limitations: Every state has statutes of limitations for product liability cases which allow consumers a specific length of time to file a product liability lawsuit. The statutes can be quite complex, and in the state of Minnesota, action must be brought within four years of the date the injury occurred.
Determining when your injury occurred can be a rather “fuzzy” line. Perhaps you realized you were injured soon after you received your implant, or maybe you did not tie your injuries specifically to your Stryker ABGII hip implant until after the recall. Maybe you have not yet experienced any adverse symptoms associated with your Stryker ABGII hip implant, however due to the extremely high rate of failure of both Stryker implants, it is statistically probable that you will. In order to avoid losing your right to bring suit against the manufacturer responsible for your injuries, it is important that you speak to an attorney regarding the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota Stryker ABGII hip statute of limitations.
DePuy ASR Hip Dangers You Could Be Exposed To: There are a number of DePuy ASR hip dangers you could develop, including DePuy ASR hip metallosis, DePuy ASR hip chromium and cobalt poisoning, synovitis, ALVAL and the development of pseudo-tumors. During periods of activity, small chromium and cobalt ions can separate from your hip implant, traveling through the body. When those ions stop at the hip tissues, you could experience chronic pain in the groin, hip and thigh, inflammation, tissue deterioration and death, bone deterioration and death, total failure of your hip implant and the necessity of undergoing DePuy ASR hip revision surgery.
When those ions travel to the bloodstream, you could develop symptoms of DePuy ASR hip chromium and cobalt hip poisoning such as: reproductive disorders, the development of certain types of cancer, respiratory issues including asthma, cardiovascular disorders including changes in echocardiogram readings, fatal cardiomyopathy and myocardial injury, neurological disorders such as a decline of cognitive functions, vertigo, visual and hearing impairment, chronic headaches, depression, anxiety and irritability, fatigue and poor concentration, hypothyroidism, renal failure, liver necrosis, changes to skin and nails, atrophy of the muscles, convulsions, seizures and tremors, DNA alterations and the development of pseudo-tumors.
The Current Status of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota Hip Metallosis Lawsuits: Stryker recently settled a portion of its Rejuvenate and ABGII lawsuits for $1 billion. Those patients who have undergone Stryker Rejuvenate hip revision surgery or Stryker ABGII hip revision surgery by November 2, 2014, are a part of this settlement and will receive a base amount of approximately $300,000 which is subject to adjustment for those who are gravely ill or have had more than one revision surgery. DePuy faced over 11,000 lawsuits related to its recalled ASR, however the company settled approximately 7,000 of these lawsuits in late 2013 for $2.5 billion. The remainder are being scheduled for mediation and trial. Finally, the DePuy Pinnacle lawsuits number over 5,400, with only one of these lawsuits being settled in late October, 2014 in favor of the defendant.
Why You May Need a Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota Hip Metallosis Lawyer: If you have suffered harm from a manufacturer of a metal hip implant such as the DePuy ASR or Pinnacle, the Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII, the Biomet M2A Magnum, the Smith & Nephew R3, the Wright Systems Conserve THS or Profemur, or Zimmer Durom, it is important to get the help you need, both medical and legal. It could be beneficial for you to speak to a Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota hip metallosis lawyer.