Stryker Hip Recall: LFIT Cobalt Chromium (CoCr) v40 Femoral Heads
NJ Product Liability Lawyers Explain Options for Hip Implant Injuries
In August of 2016, hip replacement manufacturer Howmedica Osteonics, Corp. recalled its Stryker LFIT CoCr V40 Femoral Heads after numerous reports of faulty replacements. Howmedica provided an Urgent Medical Device Notice to hospitals that used the femoral heads within the last 15 years.
Patients who have a Stryker hip implant may experience a variety of negative side effects and symptoms, including chronic pain, joint dislocation and device corrosion. Metal particles from this corrosion may cause blood poisoning, organ problems and even certain types of cancers. These injuries may result from design defects in the femoral head of the implants and usually require additional surgery to correct. Due to these dangers, Howmedica now faces multiple product liability lawsuits from patients who received hip implants with a Stryker LFIT CoCr V40 Femoral Head.
If you have a Styker hip implant or suffered injuries due to product defects in your implant, then you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. The product liability lawyers at Keefe Law Firm can examine the details of your case and advise you of your legal options. We can give you information about the Stryker hip recall and tell you whether you may be able to join ongoing class or multidistrict litigation.
What Are Defective Stryker Hip Implant Side Effects?
Patients who get hip replacements are seeking pain relief and increased movement that their genetic hips cannot provide. However, complications from the LFIT CoCr V40 hip surgeries have caused many patients to suffer more hip discomfort than they experienced prior to the replacement. The side effects caused by the corrosion of the metal components scraping against each other may include:
- Inflammation, pain and loss of mobility. Deterioration of the implant can cause tissue irritation in the hip and joint, resulting in pain and difficulty moving.
- Joint instability. Product defects in the implant can cause the joint to loosen and lose stability. This may cause extreme pain and difficulty moving. A slip and fall accident is also more likely, which could result in further serious personal injuries.
- Dislocation of the hip implant. A defective Stryker hip implant may dislocate, causing extreme pain and disability. This injury requires emergency treatment and often immediate implant revision surgery.
- Implant fracture. Sometimes, the implant may fail completely by breaking at the stem, which may require emergency surgery and prolonged healing times.
- Metal debris in the bloodstream. The eventual corroding of the cobalt and chromium structure of the implant can also cause the release of metal debris into the bloodstream (aka “metallosis”). Metallosis may cause soft tissue growths, cardiomyopathy, liver and kidney problems, bleeding and possibly cancer, among other severe symptoms.
The severity of these and other side effects have caused thousands of victims to file lawsuits against Howmedica for the LFIT Femoral Head as well as various other defective systems.
Can I File a Stryker Lawsuit in New Jersey?
The Stryker hip recall for the LFIT CoCr V40 Femoral Heads is just the latest of several product recalls for Stryker products. Currently, the company is facing thousands of product liability lawsuits filed by people who experienced adverse effects from these implants. According to these claims, chafing and corroding metal become inevitable after consistent use over time due to product defects. This results in an unacceptable risk of injury and joint failure.
As of June 2017, the New Jersey Stryker cases have been designated to multicounty litigation. Therefore, all future and pending lawsuits have been assigned to Bergen County, New Jersey for centralized case management.
Questions About the Stryker Hip Recall? Contact Us Today
If you have suffered any injuries from the LFIT CoCr V40 Femoral Heads, then you may be entitled to compensation. Keefe Law Firm has handled many lawsuits for plaintiffs suffering from complications related to other faulty hip replacements. We intend to help those victimized by the V40 Femoral Heads as well. We have offices throughout New Jersey, including in New Brunswick and Red Bank, as well as Newark and Point Pleasant.
Call (866) 575-5000 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation today.
