Stryker Hip Implant Liability Lawyer in Omaha

Representation for Victims of Defective Implants

The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II hip implants were introduced as an alternative to traditional "monoblock" designs that mimic the natural shape of the top of the femur. While they seemed like an innovative step forward at the time, these implants ultimately proved flawed and were recalled by Stryker in 2012. Despite the recall, there are still many thousands of people with these implants who have to live with the issues that arise from them every day.

Revision surgery is often required to replace and repair these implants, and while some of the expenses from this surgery may be covered by Stryker, that does not help with the pain and suffering. Civil action against Stryker can offset some of these additional expenses and difficulties, but you should not try to file any civil claim without a lawyer to represent you.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABG II hip implant, call an Omaha personal injury attorney at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. today at (402) 505-8234 to talk about your case.

The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II

Both the Rejuvenate and the ABG II were introduced by Stryker as part of a new design for hip implants. Traditional hip implants use a simple one-piece neck and stem, called a monoblock. The stem is implanted into the femur of a patient and the neck on top has a ball shape that fits into the cup or socket of the patient's hip. The Rejuvenate and ABG II were designed with multiple stems and necks that were separate pieces, in order to offer a modular system that doctors could customize to the body of each patient.

• Rejuvenate - The Rejuvenate had 6 stems and 16 modular necks. It was marketed for younger people in need of a hip implant and was supposed to offer a better range of motion than traditional designs.
• ABG II - The ABG II had 8 right stems, 8 left stems, and 10 modular necks. The idea was that this would offer greater stability and impose less stress on the femur.

What Went Wrong?

The major flaw with traditional metal-on-metal hip replacements is that the metal neck rubs against a metal cup in the patient's hip. This can cause the implant to wear down faster, but more importantly it can result in small bits of metal rubbing off and entering a person's system. The metal flakes can cause irritation and infection in the area of the implant, and even enter a person's bloodstream and lead to metal toxicity.

While the Rejuvenate and ABG II do not have traditional ball-and-socket designs, they still cause similar danger to patients. This is because they were made using chromium and cobalt, which rub against a titanium coating on the stem pieces. When this happens, metal particles can rub off and create the same complications as other metal-on-metal hip replacements.

The 2012 Recall

Once reports of these issues came flooding in, Stryker responded with a voluntary recall of the Rejuvenate and ABG II hip replacements in 2012. They stated it was due to the potential for corrosion that could cause pain, swelling, and tissue damage. Stryker advised doctors to examine patients with these implants and perform blood tests, even on those who had not had any complaints.

What Can I Do Now?

Due to the flawed design of the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II, revision surgery is often required to avoid serious health issues. Of course, revision surgery brings with it other possible complications. Since Stryker issued a recall, some medical expenses may be covered for exams and revision surgery, but this hardly offsets the pain and difficulty of dealing with a second major surgery.

Even though this is a very clear case of a defective product and manufacturer liability, you still should have a lawyer on your side before taking any action against Stryker. If you have the Rejuvenate or ABG II implant, whether you are facing revision surgery or not, or if you have already had a revision surgery, call the legal team at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. today at (402) 505-8234. We will sit down with you in a free consultation and discuss your case.

Additional Information

• What Can Go Wrong With a Metal Hip Implant?
• A Short History of Hip Replacements
• Hip Implants Can Sometimes Harm, Not Help
• Implants and Prosthetics: Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants - FDA
• Medical Device Safety - FDA
• Concerns about Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants - FDA