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Surgeon Says Recalled Stryker Metal Hip Implant May Fail Half the Time.

Surgeon Says Recalled Stryker Metal Hip Implant May Fail Half the Time

April 4, 2013 By Lillian Chan

Overview: Litigation and safety concerns have been mounting over the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular-Neck hip stems since they were recalled in July 2012. The metal-on-metal hip implants were recalled due to a risk of corrosion, which has been a concern with other devices in the same class. Dr. Zann, an orthopedic surgeon who has implanted 400 of the implants, tells The Palm Beach Post that he fears revision rates may be as high as 50 percent since it came onto the market in 2009.

Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular-Neck hip stems were recalled in July 2012 due to a risk of corrosion

A Florida surgeon says he fears revision rates may be as high as 50 percent; he has removed 100 failed hip implants

The recalled hip implants are metal-on-metal devices, which have come under scrutiny due to reports of high failure rates

Product:  ABG II Modular Femoral Stem and Modular Neck system

Manufacturer: Stryker

Side Effects & Complications

  • High failure rate
  • Necrosis (tissue death)
  • Increased levels of cobalt and chromium ions
  • Pain at the implant, sometimes spreading to the groin and back
  • Osteolysis (bone loss)
  • Fluid collections/solid masses around the hip joint

“Wearing Us Down”

Dr. Zann told the Palm Beach Post that he has implanted 400 recalled hip implants in total and has removed 100 failed Stryker hip implants within the past year. He said that since then, he has seen patients young and old suffer from metal contamination and painful, fluid-filled tumors surrounding the hip joints. “When I start operating it is the same mess in them, every single one,” he stated. He consistently finds a high-pressure fibrous tumor-like pocket so full of liquid that pops when he cuts it, according to Palm Beach Post. The so-called revision surgery is difficult for both the surgeon and the patient. “We are exhausted right now. This is wearing us down. This is really wearing us down.” Zann says that revised hips often perform worse than the initial hip implant because the bone loss causes issues with fit.

Stryker Rejuvenate ABGII Recall Hip Implant Lawsuits

In July 2012, Stryker Orthopedics recalled the Rejuvenate and ABG II systems due to a risk of corrosion and fretting at the modular-neck junction. The company is recommending that all patients implanted with the recalled device to undergo metal ion testing and diagnostic imaging to detect potential complications. Court records show that at least 81 lawsuits have been filed over the metal-on-metal hip implants.

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