Stryker Trident Squeaking Hip Problems Plague Many After Hip Replacement

Many hip replacement patients have complained of problems with squeaking Stryker Trident ceramic-on-ceramic hip parts, which may produce sounds like air being let out of a balloon or nails on a chalkboard. In addition to causing the annoying noises, the squeaking hip replacements could be a sign of unintended wear and lead to additional hip surgery or other problems.

According to a report this month in the Nashville Medical News, ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasties have been found to make noise more often than metal-on-metal, metal-on-polyethylene, metal-on-polyurethane and ceramic-on-polyethylene hip implants. The Stryker Trident cup hip implants have been identified as the leading squeaky hip by many experts.

Researchers who presented a study involving the Stryker Trident hip squeaking problems at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in March, recommended against use of the ceramic hip replacements, as the noise may be the result of premature wear.

The problems are much more common than many doctors and patients realize. According to a 2008 study in the Journal of Arthroplasty, about 7% of individuals who received ceramic hip implants from 2003 to 2005 developed squeaking hips, compared with no reports of squeaking among the control group who received metal and plastic hip parts.

A number of Stryker Trident hip lawsuits have been filed by individuals who experienced the squeaking hip problems. The lawsuits allege that Stryker did not properly research their product, and failed to adequately warn about the risk that individuals may end up with a hip that squeaks. In many cases, plaintiffs have required additional hip surgery to replace components.

In November 2007, Stryker Corp. received a warning letter from the FDA about manufacturing problems with the Trident hip parts. According to the letter, the company failed to adequately address “continual” reports of problems with Stryker Trident hip replacement parts that were received by the manufacturer between January 2005 and April 2007.

As a result of a subsequent internal investigation, Stryker discovered additional problems with products manufactured at a plant in Ireland and issued a Trident hip recall on January 22, 2008 for the Trident Acetabular PSL Cup and the Trident Hemispherical Cup, after it was discovered that contamination levels at the plant resulted in parts not meeting the proper standards for sterility.

Some researchers indicate that the Stryker Trident squeaky hips are associated with how they are lubricated. According to the Nashville Medical News report, Kenneth St. John, an associate professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, suggests that the problems may have to do with the personal physiology of the patient, as some may have fluid around the joint that may be thicker than other patients. The ceramic’s rigid surface may be too unforgiving for many people’s bodies to properly lubricate the joint.