A little more than a year ago, Stryker Orthopedics voluntarily recalled two of the company's hip replacement systems. The metal-on-metal hip replacements were supposed to be sturdier than other types of implants, but in many cases, the opposite has been true. Metal shavings from the implants can end up causing chronic pain and contaminating patients' blood.
Hartford-area residents with concerns about faulty medical devices will be interested in the story of a 55-year-old man who is suing Stryker because he says his hip implant is damaging his body's soft tissues. He has experienced physical and monetary damages, and the surgery needed to replace the implant is painful and expensive.
The man, who is from the Chicago area, was in a bicycle accident in 2007. He was thrown over the handlebars of his bike and suffered fractures in two vertebrae. He was told he may never walk again.
He did, however, regain use of his legs after rehabilitation, and last year he made a 3,200-mile cycling ride to raise money for the facility where he did his rehab.
Still, the prospect of a new surgery to correct the metal-on-metal implant is daunting. The corrective procedure is more invasive, and a surgeon would have to break the man's femur to remove the faulty hip replacement. That would mean another round of rehabilitation.
He, like people throughout the country who have received these Stryker implants, believes the defective device was too quickly taken to market without proper testing. Stryker has acknowledged the problems with the implants, and now the company will have to face an increasing number of lawsuits.
Connecticut residents who have suffered injuries because of a faulty medical device should not confront the manufacturer alone. Consulting with a medical malpractice attorney can help an injured party understand the available legal options for obtaining compensation.
Source: Winnetka Talk, "Winnetka resident sues artificial hip manufacturer," Steve Schering, Sept. 12, 2013
No Comments
Leave a comment