Stryker Announces Expansion of Hip Recall Settlement

Published on December 20, 2016 by Sandy Liebhard

Stryker Corp. has expanded the $1 billion hip replacement settlement resulting from the recall of Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular-Neck hip stems. Patients who underwent hip revision surgery due to a recall-related reason prior to December 19, 2016 will now be eligible to participate in the settlement program.

Stryker Hip Settlement

Stryker recalled Rejuvenate and ABG II hip stems in July 2012, after the metal components were found to be subject to a high rate of fretting and corrosion at the modular-neck junction.  Since then, thousands of Rejuvenate and ABG II hip recipients have filed legal claims against Stryker for injuries allegedly caused by the recalled hip stems. The massive litigation resulted in the establishment of centralized proceedings in New Jersey’s Bergen County Superior Court, as well as the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota.

The $1 billion Stryker hip settlement was announced in November 2014, and was initially limited to plaintiffs who had undergone a recall-related revision surgery prior to November 3, 2014. The program provided for gross base awards of $300,000 per failed implant, with potential deductions and enhancements based on the particulars of each case. The settlement also provided compensation for individuals who need a revision but who are medically unable to undergo the surgery. According to Stryker, more than 95% of those eligible to participate in the original settlement program opted to do so.

Stryker LFIT Femoral Head Lawsuits

News of the expanded settlement comes as Stryker faces a growing number of lawsuits over certain LFIT V40 Femoral Heads, which were recalled this past August. According to the company’s recall notice, the affected devices have been associated with reports of taper lock failure, which may result in:

• Disassociation of femoral head from hip stem
• Fractured hip stem trunnion
• Excessive metallic debris
• Insufficient range of motion
• Insufficient soft tissue tension
• Noise
• Loss of implant: bone fixation strength
• Excessive wear debris (polymeric)
• Implant construct with a shortened neck length

All of the implants involved in the Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head recall were manufactured prior to 2011. The specific implants include:

• Catalog #6260-9-236; Head diameter 36mm; Offset +5
• Catalog #6260-9-240; Head diameter 40mm; Offset +4
• Catalog #6260-9-244; Head diameter 44mm; Offset +4
• Catalog #6260-9-340; Head diameter 40mm; Offset +8
• Catalog #6260·9-440; Head diameter 40mm; Offset +12
• Catalog #6260-9-344; Head diameter 44mm; Offset +8
• Catalog #6260-9-444; Head diameter 44mm; Offset +12