Stryker Hip Implant is Defective and Caused Injuries, Alleges Lawsuit Filed by Parker Waichman LLP
New York, New York (PRWEB) July 30, 2013 -- Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured by defective medical devices, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Tennessee woman who alleges that her Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant is defective and has caused injuries. The suit was filed on June 26, 2013, in New Jersey’s Superior Court of Bergen County (Docket No.BER-L-5037-13). It is one of many cases related to the Multicounty Litigation entitled In Re Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Stem and ABG II Modular Hip Stem Litigation, Case No. 296.
According to the Complaint, the Plaintiff was implanted with a Rejuvenate hip stem on her left side, on or around Aug. 22, 2011. The lawsuit alleges that the device is defective and caused the Plaintiff to suffer various injuries. She is suing for her injuries as well as economic loss. The suit seeks compensation for loss of services and loss of consortium on behalf of her spouse.
The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Stems are akin to the metal-on-metal hip implant category in that they contain metal components that come in contact with one another, which can cause the release of metal ions. Many metal-on-metal hip implant manufacturers have recalled their products; Stryker followed suit, voluntarily recalling both products in June 2012, as the company revealed on its website.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has since put the metal-on-metal implant class under greater scrutiny following reports of high failure rates and the release of high concentrations of metallic debris into the bloodstream. On Jan. 17, 2013, the FDA released new guidelines for patients implanted with all-metal devices. The agency advised physical examinations, diagnostic imaging and metal ion testing in symptomatic patients.
According to a Jan. 17, 2013, FDA alert about metal-on-metal hip implants, adverse events can follow the surgery, including:
• Hip dislocation, which happens when the ball of the thighbone (femur) slips out of its socket in the hip bone (pelvis)
• Bone fracture
• Joint infection
• Local nerve damage with numbness/weakness
• Device loosening or breakage
• Difference in leg lengths
• Bone loss (osteolysis)
The FDA added that patients with hip implants should be aware of potential symptoms that may occur three or more months after surgery that may indicate their device is not functioning properly. Symptoms of this may include:
• Pain in the groin, hip or leg
• Swelling at or near the hip joint
• A limp or change in walking ability
• Noise (popping, grinding, clicking or squeaking) from the hip joint
Further, new data from Canada suggests that metal-on-metal hip patients are more likely to need revision surgery within five years, according to a July 18 CBC News report. Specifically, according to the Canadian Institutes for Health Information study, people who have had metal-on-metal implants face a 5.9 percent chance of needing the implant replaced within five years, compared to a 2.7 percent rate among those with metal-on-plastic implants.
Parker Waichman LLP continues to offer free legal consultations to victims of metal-on-metal hip implant injuries. If you or a loved one experienced premature failure of your implant or other health problems associated with a metal-on-metal hip implant, please contact their office by visiting the firm's Defective Hip Implant page at yourlawyer.com. Free case evaluations are also available by calling 1 800 LAW INFO (1-800-529-4636).
Contact:
Parker Waichman LLP
Gary Falkowitz, Managing Attorney
(800) LAW-INFO
(800) 529-4636
http://www.yourlawyer.com
Gary Falkowitz, Parker Waichman LLP, http://www.yourlawyer.com, 1-800-529-4636, [email protected]
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