Stryker Accolade, LFit V40 Hip Components Caused Pseudotumor, Metallosis: Lawsuit

A product liability lawsuit filed by a Texas woman alleges that recalled Stryker Accolade and LFit v40 hip components caused her to develop metal blood poisoning and pseudotumors, which resulted in severe pain and the need for revision surgery only a few years after her original hip replacement. 

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Betty Sadler in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on March 7, against Howmedica Osteonics Corp., which does business as Stryker Orthopedics.

Sadler indicates that she underwent a total hip arthroplasty in October 2008, at which time a Stryker Accolade TMZF Plus femoral stem and LFit V40 femoral head has implanted due to left hip degenerative arthrosis.

“Approximately seven years after her total hip arthroplasty, Plaintiff began experiencing significant left hip pain and discomfort,” the lawsuit states. “Upon MRI evaluation, a left hip pseudotumor was discovered.”

When Sadler underwent hip revision surgery in January 2016, surgeons discovered not only the pseudotumor, but also evidence of metallosis, which is a form of blood poisoning caused by metal debris, trunnionosis, and osteolysis. Surgeons replaced the cobalt chrome head of the LFit V40 with one made of ceramic due to the complications.

After receiving similar reports of problems, a Stryker LFit v40 hip recall was issued last summer by the manufacturer, impacting certain large-diameter femoral heads sold before 2011. At that time, Stryker acknowledged that a higher-then-expected number of individuals were experiencing problems with trunnion failure, metal wear, adverse tissue reactions and other complications.

The case filed by Sadler now joins a growing number of other Stryker Accolade hip lawsuits filed in recent months over problems when the femoral head was combined with this Stryker hip stem.

As hip replacement lawyers continue to review cases for individuals who are just now learning that complications experienced in recent years may have been caused by design problems, it is expected that several thousand lawsuits may be filed in the coming months and years.