Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head Metal Blood Poisoning Lawyers

Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., is now reviewing claims that patients suffered metal blood poisoning and other complications from use of the Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head in their hip replacement system.

Why Are Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head Lawsuits Being Filed?

The Stryker LFVIT V40 Femoral Head is an interchangeable component used in several metal hip replacement systems, including the Accolade TMZF, Accolade 2, Meridian and Citation.

Plaintiffs across the country have filed lawsuits against Stryker Orthopaedics and its parent company, Howmedica Osteonics Corp.

The plaintiffs allege that the device’s defective design caused metallic debris to spread into their tissue and blood, causing pain, disability, device loosening, device failure and other complications. Many plaintiffs needed to undergo costly revision surgery.

Additionally, the plaintiffs claim that Stryker failed to adequately warn doctors and patients about the risks associated with the LFVIT V40 Femoral Head.

In March 2017, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) held a hearing to determine whether Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head lawsuits filed in federal courts should be centralized in the District of Massachusetts (MDL No. 2768).

The goal of centralization of individual lawsuits is to allow pretrial proceedings to move along at an efficient and effective pace.

What Is the Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head?

 The Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head replaces the “ball” in the hip’s ball-and-socket joint. Stryker manufactures different sizes of the LFIT V40 Femoral Head. A doctor selects the size that fits the patient’s anatomy.

The component sits at the top of the femoral stem, or thigh bone. A taper lock attaches the head to the stem. The head is fitted inside the acetabular cup, which lines the “socket” part of the hip joint.

Both the femoral head and the acetabular cup are made of metal (cobalt and chromium). When the parts grind against each other during normal wear and tear, it can cause metallic debris to enter surrounding tissue and metal ions to enter the bloodstream.

What Problems Are Linked to the Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head?

Stryker has faced numerous problems with its all-metal hip replacement systems in recent years. In 2012, the company recalled its Rejuvenate and ABG II modular-neck hip stems due to “fretting and corrosion at the modular neck junction.”

In August 2016, Stryker issued a voluntary recall that dealt only with the LFIT V40 Femoral Head. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company specifically recalled large-diameter femoral heads that it manufactured and sold before 2011 due to a high number of complaints involving failure of the device’s taper lock.

The FDA designated it as a Class II recall. This type of recall applies to defects  that “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”

Taper lock failure can cause numerous complications, including:

  • Loss of range of motion
  • Inflammation and pain
  • Dislocation
  • Joint instability
  • Bone fractures
  • Discrepancy in leg length.

These complications may be related to disassociation of the device or from metallosis, which is the body’s reaction to metallic debris. Metallosis can involve deterioration of soft tissue (fibrosis) or the death of cells in soft tissue around the joint (necrosis).

In some cases, metal ions enter the bloodstream and travel through the body.  This blood poisoning can produce many side effects, including:

  • Skin rash
  • Heart muscle disease
  • Hearing or vision impairment
  • Depression or cognitive impairment
  • Kidney function impairment
  • Thyroid dysfunction (including neck discomfort, fatigue, weight gain or feeling cold).

If you or a loved one experienced complications after receiving a Stryker hip implant, those problems may be related to a defective LFIT V40 Femoral Head.

A lawyer can review your medical records and conduct further investigation to determine whether doctors used this component in your hip replacement procedure.

What Compensation Can You Pursue in a Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head Lawsuit?

If you or a loved one suffered injury due to the Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head, you should contact an attorney without delay. You may be eligible to seek compensation that includes:

  • Past and future medical expenses (including the costs of revision surgery)
  • Lost income and diminished future earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Punitive damages (if appropriate).

In addition to meeting with an attorney, you should file an adverse event report through the FDA’s MedWatch program. The FDA uses these reports to monitor the safety and effectiveness of medical devices.

Our Strkyer LFIT V40 Femora Head Injury Lawyers Are Ready to Help You

The attorneys of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., protect the rights of consumers . We have recovered more than $400 million on behalf of our clients in a wide range of cases, including cases involving defective medical devices.

Our record includes involvement in numerous knee- and hip-replacement class action lawsuits and mass tort cases. One of our firm’s partners, Samuel L. Davis, chaired the American Association of Justice’s Orthopedic Implant Litigation Group, which he founded.

We use the services of experienced medical professionals and conduct our own thorough investigation into defective medical device cases. In this way, we prepare strong individual cases against manufacturers.

If you or your loved one suffered harm associated with a defective Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head, contact us for a free consultation. We will charge no fees or costs unless we obtain a financial recovery for you.

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