November 30, 2017

If you received a hip implant you know they can drastically affect your quality of life. The goal of any hip replacement is to improve your mobility and decrease pain, but in some cases, hip implants are alleged to decrease a patient’s quality of life due to high early failure rates and possible metal poisoning.

Stryker, the maker of the LFIT V40 hip implant system, has faced repeated allegations that its devices—including the LFIT V40—have unreasonably high failure rates. LFIT V40 lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs who say they were never warned about the risk of failure associated with Stryker’s hip implant component.

What is the LFIT V40?

Stryker’s LFIT (which stands for Low Friction Ion Treatment) V40 femoral head is a component of a hip implant that is used with other Stryker hip devices. Designed to be individualized to each specific patient, the LFIT V40 was marketed as being stronger than traditional implants without the issues of wear and tear that plagued some hip replacement devices.

The femoral head is the part of the femur that sits in the hip socket. Hip replacement systems include an acetabular cup (which replaces the hip socket) and a femoral head (which replaces the patient’s natural femoral head). That femoral head is attached to a stem and that stem is implanted into the patient’s thigh bone.

Patients who received an LFIT V40 femoral head may not be aware they did so. The LFIT femoral head is an interchangeable component, used with Stryker’s artificial hip devices. The femoral head is made of metal and attached to a metal femoral neck. Among the Stryker devices, the LFIT V40 implant is used with are the Accolade TMZF, Meridian, and Citation.

Issues with Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants

Like many other metal-on-metal hip implants—which were all marketed as being safer and more durable than other hip implants—the Stryker LFIT V40, when combined with other metal components, is linked to a variety of patient injuries. A major concern is that the metal-on-metal devices can separate from each other or fracture, causing severe pain, limited mobility, joint instability, and an early failure rate. Furthermore, if the devices separate it can put the patient at risk of bone damage around the hip components.

Also, a concern is metallosis, a situation in which metallic debris from the hip implant devices comes loose through wear and tear and is absorbed by the patient’s surrounding tissue. This can cause pain, inflammation, and tissue infection.

Both situations can require the patient to undergo complicated and risky revision surgery to replace the damaged implant. Revision surgery not only comes with its own risks, it requires patients to take additional time for recovery, potentially affecting their ability to earn an income.

Stryker LFIT V40 Recall

On August 29, 2016, the LFIT femoral head was voluntarily recalled by Stryker after the company received “several complaints describing incidence of harm secondary to taper lock failure…”

The LFIT V40 recall in the U.S. was announced shortly after a similar announcement was sent out by Health Canada, whose notice was sent out on August 24, 2016.

Stryker Femoral Head Injuries

Patients who have received a Stryker LFIT COCR V40 femoral head could be at increased risk of:

  • Total hip implant failure
  • Femoral head disassociation
  • Metallosis (metal poisoning)
  • Pseudotumors

Among the symptoms patients might experience linked to a defective hip implant:

  • Pain
  • Limited mobility
  • Difficulty walking or bearing weight
  • Inflammation
  • Swelling
  • Increased cobalt and chromium levels

Stryker Lawsuits Filed

Enough Stryker lawsuits concerning the LFIT COCR V40 have been filed that the Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation agreed to consolidate the suits for pretrial proceedings. Although consolidation is not a comment on the merits of the individual cases, it is a sign that there are enough lawsuits with similar claims that the courts believe a multidistrict litigation is the most efficient way to address the claims early in the trial process.

As of November 15, 2017, there were around 130 lawsuits consolidated in the federal Stryker multidistrict litigation (MDL 2768, In Re: Stryker LFIT V40 Femoral Head Products Liability Litigation). Attorneys expect that as more people experience taper lock failure and other Stryker side effects more lawsuits will be filed.

Stryker also faces claims regarding its Rejuvenate and ABG II hip implant devices. Those lawsuits are consolidated in MDL 2441. Almost 1,900 federal lawsuits were consolidated for pretrial proceedings in that MDL. Stryker has also paid to settle lawsuits concerning its hip implant devices.

Hip Implant Attorneys

If you have suffered injuries as a result of a Stryker LFIT COCR V40 femoral head, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the maker of the device. Lawsuits currently filed against Stryker allege the company knew about the risk of early failure but did nothing to warn patients or the medical community. Stryker lawsuits seek compensation for lost wages, medical costs, and other damages.

Attorneys at Patterson Dahlberg Injury Lawyers are available to discuss your case. We will answer your questions, advise you of your rights, and help you choose the best course of action. Our attorneys are highly experienced at representing patients who have been harmed by medical device manufacturers. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.