Cobalt-Chromium Toxicity 
Resource Center

Stryker Hip Recall – Rejuvenate & ABG II Modular Recall Information.

Both Stryker Rejuvenate and Stryker ABG II brands have been recalled because friction between the neck and stem, made of cobalt and chromium, are releasing toxic, metal ions into the surrounding tissue. This Stryker Hip Recall has affected thousands of patients. If you or someone you know has been affected by a recalled Stryker Rejuvenate or Stryker ABG II hip implant, you need more information. We have compiled a significant amount of information on this site and in our office to help you learn what you need to know.

You may have received Stryker Orthopedics’ “Urgent Product Correction” letter sent out to all affected customers on April 23, 2012. Do you have an advocate working on your behalf for your Stryker Rejuvenate hip problems? All it takes is 3 simple steps! Start by sharing your story with us through our free evaluation form on this page or we invite you to give us a call toll free at 888-290-4472 for a no-cost, confidential case review.

Our product liability attorneys who are qualified to protect your best interest and your legal rights. At Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff, we represent hundreds of hip replacement patients.  We have decades of expertise in fighting and winning cases in the mass tort and medical device arenas.

What You Don’t Know About Your Implant Can Hurt You.

The devastation resulting from the recent widespread failure of various artificial hip implants is being billed as one of the worst disasters in orthopedic history. Most recently added to the growing list of potentially defective devices are Stryker Rejuvenate and Stryker ABG II Modular Hip Implants.

In the last two to three years, a number of manufacturers of metal-on-metal hip implants have come under fire, and now it is Stryker Orthopedics’ turn with two of its modular hips systems being recalled in July of 2012. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Stryker hip recall includes more than 20,000 prosthetic hips that were surgically implanted into patients nationwide between 2008 and 2012. The fallout from these malfunctioning devices ranges from moderate to severe, life threatening health problems plaguing thousands of hip replacement recipients.

One of the most pressing health concerns with the Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Implant and the Stryker ABG II Hip Implant is the underlying, and in many cases, unknown trauma that may not be apparent to the patient until it is too late.

Many hip replacement patients who contact our firm are experiencing  hip pain and swelling and are discovering their discomfort is not simply a pulled muscle or back issues as many doctors initially believed, but rather fretting and corrosion at the modular neck junction of their hip. This corrosion from the failing devices in some cases is causing the release of toxic cobalt and chromium metal particles into the hip joint. In far too many patients, these particles are causing hip patients serious, negative short and long-term health consequences.

According to our lead expert in the field of toxicology, Dr. Michael McCabe, on the subject of Stryker hip problems, “One of the issues here is that the levels of cobalt and chromium in blood are higher with these individuals who are having poorly functioning implants. The levels in blood are higher than have ever been seen before in other circumstances.” Whether or not patients are currently experiencing pain or swelling, Dr. McCabe highly encourages that a simple cobalt and chromium toxicity test be administered by a doctor immediately to help determine whether the implant may be causing internal damage beneath the surface.

Hip implant patients and their loved ones are now combing the Web and YouTube in search of reliable, up-to-date information on the Stryker hip recall. This is evident because of the overwhelming response we have received with more than 1,000,000 hits here at our Cobalt-Chromium Toxicity Resource Center since its inception last year. This is precisely why our team of medical device experts and product liability lawyers at Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff created this resource center. Our focus is to educate our clients and provide the necessary tools all hip replacement patients need to make informed decisions about their health and ensure their legal rights are protected.

What is Broadspire?

Broadspire is a “third party claims administrator” that was hired by Stryker and DePuy to help the manufacturers deal with more than 100,000 individuals who received recalled DePuy ASR and Stryker Rejuvenate or Stryker ABG II prosthetic hips. Their role is similar to a claims adjuster for an insurance company. Specifically, Broadspire was retained byStryker and DePuy to obtain information from people who have recalled ASR and Rejuvenate hips to confirm that they do, in fact, have recalled hips. Adjusters then attempt to determine what type of compensation should be paid to individuals for their various out-of-pocket expenses. What is important to know about Broadspire and third party administrators similar to Broadspire is that they work for and represent the hip manufacturers, not the patients. As a result, anything you tell a Broadspire adjuster can and, may, be used against you if you are involved in subsequent litigation. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of this whenever you are communicating with any Broadspire employee. The key is making sure you have an advocate protecting you and working on your behalf for your Stryker hip implant problems? All it takes is 3 simple steps! Start by sharing your story with us through our free evaluation form on this page or we invite you to give us a call toll free at 888-290-4472 for a no-cost, confidential case review.

 

Stryker Hip Recall: Why Have Stryker Hip Implants Been Removed From Global Distribution?

Both Stryker Rejuvenate and Stryker ABG II brands have been recalled because friction between the neck and stem, made of cobalt and chromium, are releasing toxic, metal ions into the surrounding tissue. As we have outlined in a video demonstration on our KCR Legal YouTube Channel, motion in the modular neck junction where the two metal pieces meet is leading to corrosion and excessive wear and tear. When this happens, cobalt and chromium particles are released into the hip joint which can cause irreparable soft tissue damage. From there, the particles can go on to destroy muscle, tendons, and can also inhibit bone growth. Even worse, the metal particles can enter the blood stream and cause a host of systemic health problems. Specifically, high cobalt and chromium levels have been linked to: cancer, heart problems, thyroid problems, depression, chronic fatigue, and rashes.

Stryker Recalled Hip Implant

Stryker Hip Problems: Symptoms, Signs and Complications You May ‘Or May Not’ Be Aware Of

While some patients may be experiencing adverse local tissue reactions that manifest in pain, swelling and/or difficulty walking, keep in mind that some patients may have absolutely NO symptoms whatsoever. However, serious, underlying health problems from cobalt and chromium toxicity can result in a plethora of harmful side effects including:

According to an article published by Dr. Stephen Tower in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery there are other significant, non-internal symptoms of cobaltism or cobalt poisoning. These symptoms may include:

What Stryker Hip Implant Patients Need To Do Right Now!

Stryker Orthopaedics, the manufacturer of the failed prosthetic devices, advises hip replacement patients who are not currently experiencing symptoms to simply continue following the post-operative plan outlined by their surgeon. However, this advice could prove to have negative and traumatic long-term consequences, both physically and financially. The bottom line is that whether or not you have pain, swelling or other unexplained symptoms, the first plan of attack for implant recipients should be to immediately have their blood tested for cobalt and chromium. If your cobalt and chromium levels are above 0.3 micrograms per liter (mg/l) or parts per billion (ppb), this is considered abnormal and patients need to be monitored. At this juncture, it is also imperative that patients contact a Stryker Rejuvenate attorney who can help protect their legal rights. The manufacturer may be required to assume financial responsibility for negligence, which may entitle patients to monetary compensation for their pain and suffering, but patients with Stryker hip problems need an advocate looking out solely for their best interest.

Stryker Hip Recall

Test for cobalt and chromium poisoning

Statute of Limitations: Is The Clock Ticking on Your Stryker Hip Recall Case? Y-E-S!

If you have a Stryker Rejuvenate or Stryker ABG II hip implant, it is imperative that you get in touch with an attorney right away. Time is of the essence, because there are statutes of limitations associated with every case. In most states the Stryker Hip Recall deadline is 2 years. However, it is important to note that in some states the statutes of limitations runs in as little as 1 year! According to Medical Device Attorney, Stuart Talley of Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff, “The Stryker Corporation may tell you that they’re going to take care of you in the future if something bad happens, but if you don’t file a Stryker Rejuvenate lawsuit within the statute of limitations and you don’t have your rights protected you could end up being completely on your own.” What this means is that if a lawsuit is not filed within the time allotted by each state, patients may be barred from recovering compensation for their injuries and future surgeries. The bottom line is, hip replacement patients need a Stryker Rejuvenate lawyer to protect their rights going forward.

Hip Implant Help

Protect Your Legal Rights

Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Failure: Protecting Your Best Interest And Getting the Help You Deserve

Do you have an advocate working on your behalf for your Stryker Rejuvenate hip problems? You may have received Stryker Orthopedics’ “Urgent Product Correction” letter sent out to all affected customers on April 23, 2012. The letter identifies the product, the problem, action to be taken by hip replacement patients and advice on where to turn. However, some patients are not getting the full medical and financial assistance they are entitled to. That is why having a legal advocate on your side, from the beginning, is critical in cases like this.

You should know that Stryker Orthopedics, the manufacturer of these modular hip implants, could end up paying out billions of dollars in settlements and legal costs arising from hip replacement lawsuits. Injured hip replacement patients often qualify for compensation for costly revision surgeries. In addition, patients with Stryker hip problems are eligible to receive monetary compensation for lost wages, medical bills, future treatment, and pain and suffering.

Therefore, your first and most important step, if you or someone you know has been affected by a recalled Stryker Rejuvenate or Stryker ABG II hip implant is to contact one of our product liability attorneys who are qualified to protect your best interest and your legal rights. At Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff, we represent hundreds of hip replacement patients who, for decades, continue to rely on our knowledge and expertise in fighting and winning cases in the mass tort and medical device arenas. All it takes is 3 simple steps! Start by sharing your story with us through our free evaluation form on this page or we invite you to give us a call toll free at 888-290-4472 for a no-cost, confidential case review.

At Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff, we look forward to serving you and your family.


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