Stryker Trident Hip Implant Problems: Class Action Lawsuit on the Way?
Medical device maker Stryker said last week that it will voluntarily recall the hip implant surgery products Trident PSL and Hemispherical Acetabular Cups.
This recall comes on the heels of a warning from the FDA to fix a host of long-standing problems, primarily the failure to function and poor fixation with its hip implant components and in its manufacturing of hip replacement parts. These defective Stryker products have led to numerous complaints and forced some artificial hip implant patients to have additional surgeries. In fact, the FDA told Stryker that it was aware that Stryker had received complaints about the improper fitting of hip implants that caused bone fractures in some patients three years ago.
The following Stryker products were named in the FDA investigation for containing manufacturing defects that are potentially harmful to hip and joint replacement patients:
• Hip Implants with ceramic components
• Solar Plasma Purefix HA Shoulder Stems
• Trident PSL Acetabular Shells
• Duracon Total Knee Modular Femoral Component
• Global Modular Hip Stems
• Trident PSL HA Solid Black 52 MM
• ReUnion Plasma Spray Humeral Stem
• Trident Hemispherical Cluster 50 MM
Almost all products liability cases against medical device manufacturers are design defect cases. In these Stryker Trident hip implant defects cases, the negligence appears to be in the manufacturing process rather than a problem associated with the way the Stryker products were originally designed.
It appears hard to argue that Stryker, a Michigan based company that before this news came out was having a great run of profitability, has done something wrong here. In the FDA’s letter stemming from its inspection of Stryker’s Mahwah, New Jersey manufacturing plant, complaints were that Stryker failed to correct their manufacturing procedures that led to complaints about their hip replacement products in the first place. It says one thing about Stryker when the FDA notes manufacturing deficiencies in the first place. It says quite another thing about Stryker when they fail to fix the defects that have been previously brought to their attention.
A lot of lawyers will be looking at these cases very closely to see whether there are enough injuries for a class action lawsuit against Stryker for these defective hip replacement products. Whether class litigation will be viable will depend on the number of reported injuries and the severity of those injuries.
Our lawyers are currently reviewing cases. If you want to discuss your case with one of our Stryker defective hip replacement lawyers, call us for a free consultation at 800-553-8082 or click here for a free Internet consultation.
Comments
Hi,
I'm a male, aged 46 and I had a Stryker ceramic THR done by one of Australia's leading ortho surgeons in March 2003. In November of that same year the ceramic femoral head shattered into 30 different pieces, hospitalising me for a month. Stryker blamed the surgeon, who replaced the femoral head with a metal one. Stryker offered me a measely five thousand dollars for 'inconvenience'. Yeah, right.
Two years of absolute, mind-numbing agony and abject, excrutiating pain later the prosthesis in the thigh bone had come loose and the entire Stryker unit had to be replaced. Three total hip opertions in three years. Take my advice, DON'T TRUST STRYKER CERAMIC HIPS!!!
I wouldn't wish the way I've been treated on an animal.
Am happy to tell you more, if it will help you.
Posted by: Mark Lees | February 14, 2008 11:17 PM
Hi Mark, I feel your pain. I rode motorcycle dirt & flat trace when I was a kid. At 46 y.o., it caught-up with me. Feb, 2006 was my 1st left side total hip replacement. About 2 weeks later, the "socket" ,with 2 screws holding it on my pelvis loosened. Five weeks of P.T. later they finally agreed with me something was wrong & redid the acetabulum only in April 2006. June 2007 I was riding my bicycle on trails that had a lot of small rocks all over them . I rode for about 2 hours & went home. The next day my thigh starter hurting. It got worse over time, so I saw a different optho. MD., then spine injections,then saw a neuro. surgeon, then saw another ortho. MD. He took my situation seriously, probably because by this time, I was in a wheel chair. He ordered a bone scan & some other tests. The bone scan revealed what I had been claiming & suspecting since after my bicycle ride, the stem was loose at the tip towards my knee. The Dr. that origionally did the 1st two surgeries was going through a divorce, as was I. He subsequently left Texas shortly after the 2nd surgery. He said, "This Stryker titanium is the latest, greatest thing." It had a plastic cup also. Two & years later, I will have to strongly disagree with him. I am currently waiting for my THIRD OPERATION for an operation they claim has a 95% success rate!!! If there is a class action lawsuite out there, please E-mail me so I can get at the top of the list. It looks like I will have time for it since I will be loosing my SECOND job because of the complications from the STRYKER HIP PROSTETIC.
Posted by: Robert cornue | June 5, 2008 11:25 PM
Hello Mark and Robert. I have a very similar story to tell. I had the ceramic hips put in on both sides.One in august 2006 and one in march 2007. My hips started squeaking almost immediately with the noise getting louder each week. The hips also were getting loose in the sockets.The noise was so loud that it was embarrassing to walk out in public.After talking too a different surgeon we decided to take the squeaky and painfully loose implants out.I now have conventional metal large diameter head implants. I cant believe that those ceramic hips were allowed to be put into people! The pain and suffering these hips are causing people is unimaginable. Sign me up for the class action suit if there is one!
Posted by: david henderson | July 16, 2008 12:12 PM
I have had 2 Stryker hip replacements, bilateral. One lasted 18 1/2 years when the cement gave way in the femur. I still have one that has been in my right leg since July 20, 1979. I don't know model, or anything about it. The surgeries were done at Rochester, MN Mayo. These surgeries changed my life and I have been very satisfied. Just hope for many more years. I was 44 when the first surgeries were done and now am 74.....
Posted by: Bethany Roedel | September 4, 2008 5:38 PM
I had a total left hip replacement in 1992 age 32, where the Doctors decided to use the Stryker porcelain head. In 1999 the ceramic head shattered into three pieces resulting in Hip revision surgery. One week in the Hospital and about six week’s of recovery. Now it looks like number three is coming up. Apparently the little bits and pieces of porcelain that couldn’t be removed have slowly grinded down my nylon cup liner. The ground nylon was absorbed into my bone causing it to slowly die and create a hollowed out cyst behind the metal cup. This third surgery already sounds excruciating, and a long recovery. I too can’t believe that those ceramic hips were allowed to be put into people! The pain and suffering this hip has caused me is unimaginable. Sign me up also for the class action suit if there is one!
Posted by: Robert Fultz | September 25, 2008 4:34 PM
Try having a Dr hear about thigh pain if you are an elderly lady. So far three want to replace my knee, they all say walk, walk as the pain became worse. The 5th doctor said rest it, use a walker. I had a partial 3 yrs ago. help?
Posted by: ssb | May 19, 2009 7:02 PM
In 1962, at the age of 5, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This is a systemic disease (as well as an autoimmune disease) which affects, not only every single joint in my body, but also my organs, as well.
Since I was so young, my Dr.'s all agreed that I needed to wait before any joint replacement surgeries were done.
Then, in 1992, at the age of 29, I had bilateral hip replacement surgery. It was my first surgery ever. I must also, agree that it changed my life. While the surgery was very tough (both hips), it was still wonderful. I had more R.O.M. than I'd ever had since age 5. More importantly, I had NO pain in my hips (after I healed from surgery).
As far as I know, both hips (balls and sockets) are titanium, and cement was used. As to what "make" the titanium was, I don't know. Perhaps there was only 1 make in 1992.
Now, 17 years later, I am just starting to have a little bit of "pain" in my right hip. It happens when I "twist" my hip a certain way. Otherwise, I have truly appreciated BOTH new hips all these years.
Posted by: Carol J. Herndon | July 11, 2009 1:34 AM
I had titanium plates and screws put into my pelvis in 1990 and had some experienced some pain for sometime. Then in 2004 I went to the doctor and had xrays taken and found out that 2 of the screws that held the plates had broke and were slowly seperating. I was going to have then removed last yr but I lost my insurance. I want to know if there could be any measures taken due to faulty hardware and by the doctor for telling me that I wouldnt need any additional surgeries and the hardware would stay in permanently.
Posted by: Richard Davis | July 16, 2009 5:52 PM
Today July 28, 2009 is the 4th anniversary of my hip replacement. I am now awaiting the results for xrays done on my hip. I don't know what the ball is made of but the femur part I know is titanium. This hip has never felt like it was a part of me. It started squeaking about 3 months after surgery. It has always been stiff. Most days I walk with a limp.Now for the last several months I can't walk across my kitchen floor without it wanting to slide out of place, dislocate. I had a hard time from the get go. I was on a cane for over a year. Not from lack of trying I can tell you. I insisted they allow me up to use the bathroom only 4 hours after surgery. The pain took my breath away, I swear I saw flashing blinding lights. But I worked hard and did everything they told me to do whether it hurt or not.
I told my husband after the surgery that after the nightmare I'd been through that I hope to die before I wore this one out because I NEVER want to experiance that kind of never ending pain again. Let me die before I need another one in 15 or 20 years I told him. And horror of all horrors I will be going through it again...only 4 years later. For the last 4 years I thought it was suppose to feel this way..like a foreign object. I thought it was just me. I've just accepted the discomfort, pain and limping as 'normal'. Then I find out the manufactuer KNEW there were defects and sold them anyways. I cannot begin to describe how angry I feel. Soon as I know what is taking place next...I'm not waiting around, I'm filing a law suit!
Posted by: Natalie Tapley | July 28, 2009 11:28 AM
Hi Every one, I had a hip
replacement in nov-2008
w/Trident PSL.
10 months later, still have
substantial pain and limping.
pain inside thigh and pain
around the knee muscle.
From the comments I am now
resigned that another replacement will have to happen!
I up for a law suit!
Posted by: David | August 24, 2009 7:05 PM