Stryker Rejuvenate Lawsuit - Don’t Wait for the Pain

May 28, 2013, 8:00AM. By Jane Mundy

Burlington, IATeresa isn’t out to blame her Stryker Rejuvenate hips for her disability, but she does want to know why her hip implant is failing. “I want to know whether it is due to a defect in the device or a bad implant,” she says. “Either way, I need revision surgery and don’t want another Stryker hip.”

Teresa was considered disabled when she had her first hip surgery because of all her bone conditions. “I got my right hip replacement in 2005 when I was only 51 years old,” Teresa says. “I had necrosis in my pelvis and was told that I have the bones of an 85-year-old woman. (Will I live to have bones of a 120-year-old?) No surprises here: My mom had bad hips and joints, and like her, I have osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.”

Four years later, Teresa had her left hip replaced and a knee replacement in 2011, but she doesn’t much feel like the Bionic Woman. Her surgeon confirmed that both hips are made by Stryker and she carries a card that says as much (required at airport security) but that’s all she knows - Teresa needs to get her medical report to determine whether one or both are on the Stryker recall list.

“Both my hips worked well for a while but now I am getting pain in my right side, so it leads me to believe that the device is either defective or something else is going on, such as Stryker orthopedics metallosis. It’s certainly not from overuse; it’s not like I am running marathons or anything. On a good day I’m walking around the yard or walking the dogs for a few blocks.

“I had my surgery in Illinois but the surgeon who did my left hip and left knee is here in Iowa so I have to see him. He said my right hip shouldn’t be bothering me like this. I know I am scheduled for an x-ray, and I know that isn’t going to show much. I am going to phone ahead and try to order a CT Scan and possibly an MRI.

I want to prove that this is a Stryker problem, and if it is due to a bad implant, I want a new one. Although I am covered on my health plan, I would have to go through somewhat of a power play with the government - sometimes you have to fight tooth and nail to get any testing, such as a CT Scan, to prove that a device is indeed defective. And if it turns out that one of my Stryker hips has been recalled, I want to look into a Stryker hip lawsuit.

Stryker Orthopedics Rejuvenate Modular Hip System Recall
More than 20,000 Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II components are involved in the Stryker Rejuvenate hip recall that was announced in July 2012, according to Stryker’s hip recall notice. The company has warned patients who received their hip stems that they could be at risk for pain, swelling and adverse local tissue reactions. Further, Stryker has advised all recipients with a Stryker Rejuvenate to undergo blood and imaging tests to ensure their hips are functioning properly, whether or not they are experiencing any symptoms. And attorneys are advising recipients to consider a hip replacement lawsuit - don’t wait for the pain.