Stryker Orthopaedics Faces Medical Product Liability Issues

 Posted on September 02, 2014 in Food Poisoning

Stryker Orthopaedics (“Stryker”) is one of the world's leading medical technology companies. Recently, Stryker has come under fire for some of its medical devices that have been found to be defective. In fact, over 2,000 plaintiffs have filed suit against Stryker because of faults in Stryker hip implants. A suit, entered on May 20, 2014, asserts that the Accolade TMZF femoral hip stem, designed and manufactured by Stryker, is a defective medical product with a premature failure rate.

The Stryker Hip Implant

The issues with Stryker hip implants have been going on for years. In 2003, the Trident Ceramic Acetabular System was introduced to the public, but soon came under attack following adverse event reports received by the FDA. This hip implant was in 2008.

In 2012, another hip implant, the Stryker Rejuvenate System, was recalled after being released into the market. The subject of the most recent suit against Stryker is the Stryker Accolade TMZF femoral hip stem, introduced in 2000. This product is made up of a special proprietary beta titanium alloy, which was touted as allowing for increased elasticity, tensile strength, and flexibility that mimics the attributes of natural bones. The metal-on-metal design of the Accolade implant has been criticized by independent medical device experts for being both unsafe and defective.

Concerns about the Stryker Accolade Hip Implant

Five or more plaintiffs filed suit on May 20, 2014 against Stryker due to the risk of complications and premature failure rates associated with the Accolade femoral hip stem. All plaintiffs had hip replacement surgery that inserted the Accolade TMZF femoral hip stem. This suit alleges that the femoral hip stem was both defective in manufacture and design. The suit also claims that the device presented an unreasonably dangerous risks of product fretting and corrosion. As a result of the design and risks associated with the femoral hip stem, the device could result in a very high rate of premature device failure that could occur in the first year following hip replacement.

Specific concerns involve the release of some of the metallic debris of which the device is composed. Such metallic debris could be released into the body causing bone damage, extreme metal poisoning, and tissue necrosis. In their suit, the plaintiffs claim that Stryker understood all of the dangers associated with the hip replacements before the release of the Accolade femoral hip stem. Ultimately, the plaintiffs allege that they deserve compensation for their pain and suffering, injuries, and continued medical expenses.

Contact Our Attorneys as Soon as Possible

Do you need legal advice about a defective hip implant? Contact the Arlington Heights defective medical device attorneys at Newland & Newland, LLP in northern Illinois today. We can help you understand your options, and help you secure payment for the injuries that you have sustained.