Cannon & Dunphy S.C. is representing persons who were implanted with either the Stryker Rejuvenate or Stryker ABG II hip implant models. If you were implanted with either of these two implant models, contact the Cannon & Dunphy Stryker Hip Implant Team today at (855) 627-2147 and ask to speak to either Attorney Mark L. Thomsen or Attorney Edward E. Robinson.
Stryker initiated a voluntary recall of its Rejuvenate Modular and ABG II modular-neck hip stems in the United States in June 2012 “due to potential risks associated with modular-neck stems. These risks include the potential for fretting and/or corrosion at or about the modular-neck junction, which may result in adverse local tissue reaction, as well as possible pain and/or swelling, in or around your hip.”
Since that time, orthopedic doctors around the country have continued to raise caution flags regarding the adverse health effects resulting from these implant models. An article appearing in the May 2013 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (2013;95:865-72) involves a “retrospective case series of twelve hips (eleven patients) with adverse local tissue reactions secondary to corrosion at the modular neck-body junction.”
Eight women and three men, with an average age of 60.1 years, all underwent a total hip replacement surgery in which a Stryker Rejuvenate implant model was used. The patients’ symptoms included pain in the groin, buttock, hip or thigh. Significantly, the authors noted that “[a]l hips showed large soft-tissue masses and surrounding tissue damage with visible corrosion at the modular femoral neck-body junction.” Each person had to suffer through an unnecessary painful revision surgery to remove and replace the defective implant.
More recently, a 2014 article by R. Pivec et al. in The Journal of Arthroplasty (29, 1-6), and a letter in response to the article appearing in the same Journal (29, 448-451), raise additional concerns regarding the significant corrosion of the Stryker modular neck-stem taper junction and the adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) caused by these Stryker products.
In light of these known complications and adverse health effects,orthopedic physicians believe all patients with one of these implants should be contacted and brought in for testing, including, among others, a specific MRI (metal artifact reducing sequence “MARS”) to evaluate for potential soft tissue injury, and specific blood testing to detect for cobalt and chromium. Due to the potential permanent damage that may be caused by metal corrosion, it is recommended that this testing be done even if the person is not currently experiencing any pain or discomfort or any other symptoms.
If you or your loved one have undergone a hip replacement in which a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABG II hip system was used, call (855) 627-2147 to learn about your rights.
