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More Hip Implant Lawsuits Expected as Stryker Products Fail

Holly Kelly Ennis Nov. 13, 2016

It is anticipated that hundreds, if not thousands, of lawsuits will soon be filed based upon the failure of yet another metal-on-metal hip implant system.  Stryker heavily promoted its V40 head and taper system, which can be used with a variety of Stryker hip implants including:

  • Accolade

  • Citation

  • Meridian

  • Exeter

  • Reliance

  • Definition (and)

  • Restoration

  • The V40 metal heads have also been used with the Rejuvenate and ABGII stems.

In August 2016, Stryker notified physicians that a select group of their metal V40 femoral heads was causing premature failure resulting in revisions surgeries.  Specifically, the Stryker heads made of cobalt chromium were at the greatest risk of failure.  This failure has been associated with metal poisoning, fractures, loss of function and premature failures/revision surgeries.  It has also caused catastrophic separation of the head from the stem resulting in major injuries requiring revision surgeries.

The problems appear to be exacerbated by use of different metal components, which make up the head, which are primarily cobalt/chromium and the stem, which is titanium.  As the implant moves, the head and stem rub together causing small metal particles to flake off of the device. These metal particles cause tissue necrosis and death.  As the tissue surrounding the implant dies, the implant becomes loose and unstable, resulting in implant failure and necessitating a revision surgery.  Additionally, this debris, created by the friction of the metals, can cause systemic damage to the central nervous system, thyroid and heart.

It is estimated that there are nearly 200,000 implanted individuals at risk for implant failure.  It is also anticipated that the failure rate of the implants will be nearly 25%.  Many of the hip implants utilize a ceramic head, which does not cause the significant sloughing of metal particles associated with the all-metal hips.  Many doctors, recognizing the risks associated are now exclusively using nonmodular stems and ceramic femoral heads to decrease the possibility of corrosion.

In addition to the Stryker devices listed above, problems also occur with other all-metal hip implants including: 

  • Wright Medial Conserve Cup (M-o-M)

  • Wright Medical Profemur Stem (Modular)

  • Zimmer M/L Taper Kinectiv Stem (Modular)

  • Simmer Durom Cup with Modular Heads

  • Biomet M2A 38mm/Magnum

  • DePuy ASR (M-o-M)

  • DePuy Pinnacle (M-o-M) with modular heads

  • DJO/Encore (M-o-M)

  • Omnilife Apex Arc (Modular)

  • Smith & Nephew R3 (M-o-M)

  • Smith & Nephew SMF Stem (Modular)

If you or a loved one were implanted with a metal-on-metal hip, contact the attorneys at Ennis & Ennis for a free confidential consultation or visit us online at www.Ennislaw.com and fill out an online form.