DePuy Orthopedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, now is faced with thousands of lawsuits in state and federal courts. Many of these lawsuits have been filed as a result of dangerously elevated cobalt and chromium blood levels — the injuries associated with the ASR metal hip. More recently, another product has come to the attention of the FDA, and patients who have certain Stryker hip components (Rejuvenate and ABG II) are also having problems with the metal in the device causing poisoning, and are investigating whether they too need to file lawsuits.
Metal-on-metal hip implants came under recent FDA scrutiny at an FDA expert panel on June 27-28, 2012. Anapol Schwartz represents hundreds of clients with defective metal-on-metal hip implants like the Lorenz family.
On July 6, 2012, Stryker Orthopedics recalled two hip implant components used in several of their total hip replacement systems.
Symptoms of the metal poisoning from potential corrosion and fretting, include:
- tissue swelling,
- pain, and
- metal poisoning.
The recalled Stryker implants include two models of modular neck hip stems:
- Rejuvenate and
- ABG II
Modular-neck stems allow for the correction certain aspects of a patient's anatomy.
Will this recall may be part of a widespread trend of metal on metal hip implant injuries?
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