Stryker Hip Recall
Another recall situation involving a major corporation has come to light. Stryker Corporation is responsible for many orthopedic devices throughout the world. They have built these successful items for years. But, that does not mean that all of their devices are great. Two items have been drawing special interest. Their Rejuvenate Modular and Modular Neck-Hip items reportedly have serious problems. Despite being approved for United States use, the items have been the focus of more than 100 complaints to the FDA.
Voluntary Recall
Instead of waiting for a reprimand from the FDA, the company decided to recall these items of their own volition. They were recalled in 2012 and production was completed stopped on these two items. Stryker does not sell the Rejuvenate Modular and Modular Neck-Hip systems anywhere in the world.
Failures in these systems are not uncommon. However, the level of failure associated with these two systems was very troubling for Skyler. Their surveillance data revealed that the items were failing more than 30% of the time. In addition, these items caused negative side effects in the patients who were using them.
Poor Design
The problem with the design on these systems is the "metal on top of metal" structure. The necks of the implants are created by combining chromium and cobalt. The necks also contain titanium as a coating, which means two metals rubbing together. When a patient uses this system for a long time, the metals rubbing create debris and metal ions. This results in severe pain on the site where the implant was used, with some patients needing surgery to fix the issue.
Sometimes the metal debris enters the bloodstream. This can be very problematic, with some patients complaining of fretting and corrosion in muscle tissue and bone near the implant site. Inflammation can be treated with surgery, but permanent damage to nearby tissues is hard to fix.
Allergic reactions were also reported among patients who used these metallic implants. The area would swell up and they would report severe pain. Some patients had to get the implant removed within a week or two. Others had surgery after a year to fix the problems caused by these implants.
Here are some side effects reported by patients:
Necrosis - complete death of nearby tissues.
Growth of tumors near the implants.
Complete dissolution of bones.
Metal toxicity.
If you or anyone you know had a Stryker implant, it is important to see a doctor immediately. They can assess the area and decide whether any treatment or surgery is necessary.
Lawsuits Against Stryker
It is important for these patients to know that they are not alone. Those who suffered because of these improper implants have a case in court. They can demand compensation from Stryker, a company worth millions of dollars. Most compensation cases depend on the level of injury suffered. Patients who needed one or two surgeries are entitled to compensation for their medical expenses.
Some patients may also claim compensation for pain and suffering. The pain from using these implants could have caused them to perform poorly at work, which impacted their earning potential. Compensation can also be demanded for the distress caused by the implants not working as they were advertised.
