New York, NYMany people who suffered pain and inflammation from their Stryker Rejuvenate hip device sought legal help, but may have been turned away because it wasn’t a metal-on-metal hip implant. Attorneys are now accepting claims against Stryker.
“We are investigating Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II hip replacement lawsuits because, while those implants may not be metal-on-metal devices, they include a metal-on-metal component--the modular neck hip stem,” says Attorney Jeff Grand, Bernstein Liebhard LLP.
“We are concerned about the Stryker Rejuvenate complaints we have received thus far and the potential for this product to cause metallosis,” says Grand. “While we are still ordering medical records for many of our clients, we are hearing similar complaints to those clients who have been implanted with metal-on-metal hip implants, such as the ASR, and who have high-metal levels in their blood. These clients also are suffering from inflammation and infection.”
Stryker Orthopedics Rejuvenate Modular Hip System
The Stryker Rejuvenate is somewhat different from other metal-on-metal hip systems such as the DePuy ASR. Its components are ceramic, but it also has metal-on-metal parts, and they can fail just like other hip implant systems.
“We are concerned that the metal-on-metal components in the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular Hip System are failing and causing inflammation and infection,” says Grand. “These adverse events seem to be common to many metal-on-metal hip implant products, which are growing in number and are starting to implicate more and more manufacturers. As physicians learn more about these problems, it seems that more and more surgeons are abandoning use of metal-on-metal implants.”
In May 2012, the Stryker Rejuvenate was recalled in Canada, so that “instructions for use could be updated,” according to Stryker Orthopedics. In July 2012, Stryker voluntarily recalled its Rejuvenate and ABG II modular-neck stems from the market in the US. The products were recalled due to reports of fretting and corrosion.
As of July 12, 2012, Johnson & Johnson is facing about 1,600 Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip system lawsuits. According to Reuters, Cindy Schipani, professor of business law at the University of Michigan, said J&J could be playing with fire if the Pinnacle metal-on-metal devices are shown to be defective. "[Johnson & Johnson] lose credibility if they keep saying they're not responsible and then it turns out the product is the problem," she said.
“We are seeing an increase in complaints relating to metal-on-metal hip implants, including the Pinnacle,” adds Grand. “ And while the manufacturer of the Pinnacle, DePuy, has recalled another metal-on-metal device, the ASR Hip System, it maintains there is not a class-wide problem and it has not recalled the Pinnacle.”
Many Pinnacle recipients are experiencing the same problems as those with the ASR and now with the Stryker Rejuvenate--namely pain and swelling, limited mobility, and dislocation. And the possibility of metallosis, which can lead to a litany of serious issues, including cardiovascular, neurological, renal and thyroid problems, in addition to destroying soft tissue, muscle and bone.
Is it just a matter of time before Pinnacle and Stryker will be recalled? Stay tuned…
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