Hip replacement surgery is major surgery that comes with certain risks that have to be weighed against the benefits of replacing a damaged hip. Some replacement hips come with more risks than others and that includes two artificial hip systems made by Stryker Corp. Two of their most problematic hips have been recalled, but not before many people were harmed by these faulty artificial joints.

The problem has largely been with hip implants made of all metal components. Stryker is not the only company to face issues with this type of artificial hip, but may be guilty of negligence and failing to warn patients that their hips could fail after being implanted. Because of the damage and pain caused by these hip systems, numerous Stryker hip implant lawsuits have been field and settled.

Striker Hip Implants

People with enough damage to their hip joints to have serious chronic pain and limited mobility are usually good candidates for hip replacement surgery. Arthritis, injuries, bone cancer, and other conditions can cause enough damage to a hip joint to make movement difficult and painful. Artificial hips generally contain three parts: a cup for the socket, a ball to fit the cup, and a stem to attach the ball to the femur. Hips may be made of any combination of plastic, ceramic, and metal.

In the last couple of decades a lot of medical device companies, like Stryker, developed all metal hips, known as metal-on-metal hips. This refers to the fact that the metal ball rubs against the metal cup when the joint moves. These newer hips were supposed to be more durable and long-lasting, better for people who are more active and younger.

Two of Stryker’s metal-on-metal hips have proven to have problems and to cause more harm than good for some patients. These are the Rejuvenate and ABG II hip systems. As soon as they were used in hip replacement surgeries, reports started to accumulate that indicated the hips had early failure rates, corroded easily, and required more revision surgeries than other types of hips. These two hips have been the source of numerous lawsuits that Stryker has faced over the last few years.

Problems with Stryker Hips and Recall

Stryker is not the only company to face lawsuits and complaints about its metal-on-metal hips. Generally, this style of all metal hip system has been disappointing at best and damaging at worst for too many patients receiving them. One of the biggest problems has been the fact that when metal rubs against metal it releases small metal fragments. These have been found to cause irritation and inflammation in the joint area, and even metal poisoning in some patients when the fragments get into the bloodstream.

Metal hips have also failed to be as long-lasting as was expected. Stryker’s hips have failed more than they are supposed to, leading to high revision rates. Revision refers to the additional surgeries that patients need to correct the damage caused by a failed hip or even to replace the hip entirely. Some of the people who received the Rejuvenate or ABG II hip systems experienced fractures, a broken artificial hip, a loosened hip joint, or infections, and have had to have multiple revision surgeries. Some of these patients even ended up with permanent damage.

In 2012 Stryker warned surgeons that they found evidence their hips caused more localized reactions from metal fragments as compared to other hips. The evidence came from post-marketing clinical data, the continuing research that goes on after a device has gone to market. The company also warned that their hips could corrode and cause multiple problems including bone loss, allergic reactions, and tissue death. Shortly after issuing this warning Stryker made the move to recall the two problematic hip systems.

Multidistrict Litigation

The high failure rates and the metal poisoning as well as multiple surgeries and permanent damage have all led to a lot of lawsuits filed against Stryker over its two hips. Thousands of these were consolidated into two multidistrict litigation cases, one in New Jersey and one in Minnesota. Stryker eventually decided to settle these cases before they could go to trial, unlike some other device makers in a similar situation with metal-on-metal hips.

The company stated that the $1.4 billion that it settled on paying was on the low end of what they expected, which could explain why it was decided to settle out of court. The amount is expected to cover the nearly 1,800 plaintiffs involved in the multidistrict cases, plus more people harmed by the hips if they come forward to claim compensation. Patients who qualify are expected to get around $300,000 from the settlement.

Individual Lawsuits

The individuals who filed lawsuits against Stryker suffered a variety of consequences from receiving the hip implants. In one case a woman had metal poisoning with high levels of cobalt in her blood. She also experienced bone death and a hip fracture. Another plaintiff experienced a failed hip just a year after surgery and required painful revision surgery.

Why File a Stryker Hip Implant Lawsuit?

These people filed lawsuits not just to get money, but to bring justice to a medical device company they believe acted negligently. Some of the claims that plaintiffs have made against Stryker include deceptive and unethical marketing practices, a failure to act soon enough on reports of failure rates, selling devices even after finding out that there were issues, misrepresenting the safety and effectiveness of the hip systems and failing to warn patients and doctors of all the risks of the hips, including poisoning with heavy metals.

If you received one of the Stryker hip systems, you may still have a chance to get your piece of justice and of the compensation offered in the settlements. Let a lawyer help you and decide if you have a case to make. The cost of a failed hip is high, including medical bills, but also pain and suffering, and time away from work and family. If you have suffered because of their hips, Stryker may owe you.