Stryker Settles Defective Hip Implant Litigation for $1.4 Billion
Stryker Corporation has entered into a billion dollar settlement of thousands of lawsuits filed by individuals who were forced to endure revisionary surgery after being implanted with Rejuvenate and ABG II metal hip implants. The implants have been recalled because of a defect in the modular neck stem of the devices. The manufacturer of the medical device has indicated that the metal-on-metal design of the two components which are made of dissimilar metals can cause miniscule metal particles to slough off of the components.
When the particles enter the patient’s bloodstream, they can cause complications like swelling and pain in the vicinity of the hip implant replacement. Corrosion of the metals can release toxic substances into the bloodstream. This blood poisoning process from cobalt or chromium is referred to as Metallosis.
The Rejuvenate and ABG hip replacements were recalled by Stryker and its subsidiary Howmedia Osteonics Corp. because of an atypically high failure rate for the devices. At the time of the recall (July 2012), approximately 20,000 of the hip replacement devices had been implanted in patients throughout the U.S.
Thousands of lawsuits were filed across the U.S. in the wake of the recall after many patients implanted with the hip replacement device were required to undergo revisionary surgery. Patients forced to undergo this corrective surgery were exposed to the risk of further complications because the procedure is considered high-risk. Many patients who underwent revisionary surgery experienced further injury during the remedial procedure that included broken bones, fractures, infections and muscle injuries.
The multidistrict litigation (MDL) settlement awarded patients who were forced to undergo revisionary surgery after their Stryker hip replacement failed were entitled to a base payment of $300,000. If the patient had to have double hip replacement surgery to remove devices on both legs, these patients were awarded a base amount of $600,000. The base award in the Stryker settlement is the largest base award for injuries caused by defective hip implants.
If patients who had revisionary surgery suffer certain additional medical problems during the next two years, they might qualify for additional compensation for medical conditions that include infections, stroke, heart attack, dislocation, pulmonary embolism (PE) further surgeries, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or death. Under the terms of the settlement, patients who experience additional complications during this two year window will also be compensated for lost wages.
Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years of Legal Experience to Work For Your Claim
If you or someone you love has undergone revisionary surgery because of complications associated with a hip implant, you might be entitled to financial compensation. Our lawyers at Montlick and Associates have been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over thirty years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
Sources:
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/stryker-hip-recall-products-rejuvenate-100000304.html