Stryker Hip Settlement Expanded

New York, NY Patients who had certain Stryker hip replacements implanted but found themselves ineligible for the 2014 Stryker hip settlement received some good news. Those patients who had the Stryker ABG II Modular Neck Hip Stem and Rejuvenate Modular Neck Hip Stem implanted from 2014 to December 19, 2016, are now eligible to take part in the 2014 settlement. The announcement does not affect the Accolade TMZF, but settlements in lawsuits concerning other hip replacement devices could indicate a willingness to settle Accolade claims.

Stryker has faced complaints about multiple hip replacement devices, including Rejuvenate and Accolade. Concerns about Accolade have arisen more recently but like Rejuvenate, they include complaints of premature hip failure and severe pain. Patients who experience premature hip failure must often undergo revision surgery to replace their hip implant. In the case of Stryker Accolade, patients complain of catastrophic dislocation of the implant.

In 2014, Stryker reached a settlement worth approximately $1 billion concerning its Rejuvenate Modular Hip and ABG II Modular hip stems. Those lawsuits also alleged patients were at risk of premature failure. Further, because the hip implants were metal-on-metal, patients were at a risk of metallosis caused by metallic debris coming loose from the implant.

Thousands of plaintiffs were affected by the settlement but to be eligible for inclusion in the settlement, plaintiffs must have had both the implant surgery and the revision surgery before November 3, 2014, the date of the initial settlement. That meant patients who had the implant but had not yet had the revision surgery were excluded from the settlement fund.

With the extension to the settlement, patients who have had both the initial and revision surgeries by December 19, 2016, are eligible to take part in the settlement fund. Patients who already took part in the 2014 settlement or who otherwise resolved their Stryker claims are not eligible to take part in the extended settlement. Those who were eligible for the 2014 settlement but did not enroll in it are again eligible to do so, but they must enroll by January 9, 2017.

Settlement values start at around $300,000 but individuals who suffered complications that required additional medical treatment could be eligible for a higher amount.