In 2012, Stryker Orthopedics was forced to issue a hip device recall of one of their widely used modular hip stem devices. After a number of lawsuits, Stryker finally agreed to a settlement of $1.4 billion for the product liability and personal injury claims against them — and it looks like Stryker Orthopedics is going to be in a similar situation again this year. There have been multiple reports that one of their devices has either been breaking at the stem or causing metal poisoning. Both instances cause the patient to need emergency revision surgery.
Of course, this is a huge problem. As the metal joints rub against each other, they begin to corrode. This weakens the head-neck juncture of the implant causing it to eventually break. It also can cause severe pain for the patient as well as higher metal levels. This is what leads to metal poisoning or “metallosis.”
Unfortunately this is not a problem that can simply be repaired; the patient will need a new device entirely. This poses additional risk for patients whose bodies are already adapting to one hip surgery. They are being exposed to the risk of infection or other complications expected from a hospital setting. Moreover, these devices are attached directly to the patient’s bone. They’re not designed to be replaced, and oftentimes, a surgeon will have to break the femur in order to remove the device, causing additional strain on the patient’s body.
Even once this corrective surgery is finished, there is no guarantee that the patient will be alleviated of their problems. In fact, in all likelihood, long-term problems will persist. As such, those affected by this defect should be entitled to compensation.
