Stryker Hip Settlement Has Been Extended. According to court documents, the deadline to enroll in the Stryker Orthopaedics Rejuvenate Hip System settlement has been extended from early March to March 30, 2015. A high early failure rate and a risk of metallosis prompted Stryker to recall the ABG II and Rejuvenate Modular Hip System […]
Stryker Hip Settlement Has Been Extended. According to court documents, the deadline to enroll in the Stryker Orthopaedics Rejuvenate Hip System settlement has been extended from early March to March 30, 2015.
A high early failure rate and a risk of metallosis prompted Stryker to recall the ABG II and Rejuvenate Modular Hip System in June 2012. The settlement – reached in November 2014 – compensates patients who alleged that the implants were defective and caused injuries.
The recalled hip devices experienced problems similar to those with metal-on-metal hip implants although the Stryker devices were not fully composed of metal. When a hip’s metal components rub together during movement, they create minute metallic debris that can enter the patient’s bloodstream and cause tissue and muscle damage, The New York Times has reported. Lawsuits filed by recipients of the recalled hips allege injuries including pain, loosening of the joint, hip dislocation, difficulty walking, and cysts around the joint. Many of the patients have undergone additional surgeries to remove and replace the hips with safer or more durable models.
Stryker has set aside $1.45 billion to settle these cases. Patients who have had one hip device implanted and removed are eligible to receive $300,000 base compensation, and those who had two hip devices removed and replaced are eligible to receive $600,000. The base amount may be adjusted depending on the severity of the injuries and whether multiple surgeries were needed. The settlement also covers individuals who were injured but were unable to undergo additional surgery because of medical issues.
Gary Falkowitz, Managing Attorney at Parker Waichman LLP, a firm involved in the litigation, said, “The compensation from this settlement will help many patients who have suffered metallosis, revision surgery, and other injuries and complications related to the recalled Stryker hip implant.”
The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).