Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Lawsuit Filed Over Recalled Modular Neck Stem

Stryker Orthopedics now faces the first of what could be many product liability lawsuit over its recently recalled Rejuvenate modular neck hip replacement implant. 

Dianne Pingel, 66, from Florida, filed a complaint in New Jersey Superior Court for Bergen County on August 8, alleging that problems with the Stryker Rejuvenate hip replacement caused her artificial hip to fail a few years after it was implanted.

According to the complaint, Pingel received two artificial hips that used the Stryker Rejuvenate modular neck stems, which features two parts that make up the femoral component of the implant. Unlike traditional hip replacement systems, which features one piece that makes up the femoral neck and stem, the two pieces of the modular Stryker Rejuvenate fit inside each other, allowing the surgeon to adjust the length to match the patient.

Pingel alleges that as the two metal parts rubbed against each other during normal activities of daily life, small metal debris was released that result in metal ion poisoning from fretting and corrosion of the implants.

The lawsuit indicates that Pingel had to undergo revision surgery as a result of the problems, during which one of her femurs broke. She later suffered a dislocated hip, another broken femur and is now in a nursing home, anticipating more revision surgeries to fix the damage and to remove the other Rejuvenate modular neck stem.

Pingel alleges that the revision surgeries were complicated by pseudotumors, bone necrosis and other problems with soft tissue that have been linked to metal blood poisoning from metal hip implants, also known as metallosis.

In July 2012, a Stryker Rejuvenate recall was issued for the modular-neck hip stem components, due to a risk of fretting and corrosion at the modular neck junction. Stryker indicated that the implant has been associated with the problems, which can cause pain, swelling, local tissue reactions and early failure of the hip replacement.

The Stryker Rejuvenate Modular Hip System was just introduced in February 2009.  While such implants are expected to last 15 to 20 years, the Stryker modular femoral neck stem was removed from the market less than two years after it was introduced amid reports of problems.

The lawsuit is seeking compensatory damages for Pingel’s medical expenses and pharmaceutical costs. The lawsuit is also looking to be able to charge Stryker for punitive damages as well.

It is expected that a number of individuals will file Stryker Rejuvenate lawsuits in the coming months over similar problems associated with the modular neck stem.