Stryker to Pay Over $1 Billion For Recalled Defective Hip Implants Says Attorney Lisa Douglas

If you or a loved one are among an estimated 500,000 in the United States who have received metallic hip implants, you may be eligible for compensation.  Patients who have had the devices removed may be paid a base payment of $300,000 from Stryker.

Patients who have undergone revision surgery to remove and replace the defective Stryker Rejuvenate or AGB ll hip systems, by November 3, 2014, may receive the base payment of $300,000 from Stryker.

Depending on certain factors, the base award may be adjusted upward. Patients who experienced extraordinary medical injuries, would be an example .  Extraordinary medical injuries would be defined as situations such as multiple surgeries (re-revisions), infections, strokes, heart attacks, blood clots and other medical complications suffered as a result of revision surgery.

Patients who wish to submit their claim for payment under the settlement, must register with the claims administrator by December 14, 2014 and then complete the enrollment process by the deadline of March 2, 2015.  Under the settlement program, the first payments are expected to begin sometime in the summer of 2015.  The end of 2015 and early 2016, is the projected timeframe for disbursement of the enhanced payments for extraordinary medical injuries.

Stryker’s ultimate liability has not been capped.  The total of payments, under the settlement, are expected to far exceed $1 Billion dollars.

Many metal-on-metal device recipients have required removal of defective implants as they were at risk for many health problems.  The metal components came in contact with each other, causing friction that released metallic particles in the hip joint that may travel throughout the body.

Many patients required Revision Surgery to remove the defective metal implant and replace it with a new device.  This quite painful and costly operation could have been avoided, had Stryker warned patients of the devices’ risks due to a failed design flaw.

Common Symptoms Have Included:

•    Pain in the hip, leg or groin
•    Difficulty in walking
•    Hip joint swelling
•    Infections
•    Numbness

The defective metal-on-metal devices pose unique risks.  The released metal chromium and cobalt particles cause Metallosis or metal poisoning.  Symptoms of  Metallosis include bone and tissue death, implant failure and severe pain.

Other serious side effects of Stryker’s defective metal hip implant devices are:

•    Debris buildup
•    Osteonecrosis (bone death)
•    Fracture
•    Squeaky joints
•    Osteolysis (bone dissolution)
•    Device Loosening
•    Dislocation
•    Death

Stryker has been charged in lawsuits that they knew or should have known that their Rejuvenate and AGB ll hip implants were not safe for patients.  Yet Stryker continued to market and sell the defective products.  Stryker did no clinical testing to insure that they were safe and reliable.

It was revealed in 2012, by the Australian National Joint Replacement Registry, that the AGB ll failed at extremely high rates. It was revealed that hundreds of revisions surgeries had taken place among Stryker Hip patients.

The Federal Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) consolidated all of the Stryker Hip Replacement lawsuits on June 12, 2013  and  transferred all the cases to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota for discovery.

The Law Offices of Lisa Douglas is dedicated to helping all patients who have suffered from Stryker and other defective hip replacement devices, especially those who have had the revision surgery.  Please contact us for further information, as the deadlines are fast approaching.  Our professional and knowledgeable staff will guide you through the settlement process of determining if you have a claim and whether you are entitled to a settlement.

Law Offices of Lisa Douglas

2300 Main Street, North Little Rock, AR  72543

(501)798-0004

www.LisaGDouglas.com

LisaGDouglas@aol.com