Stryker LFIT V39 Femoral Head Recall
Stryker Corporation has notified physicians and hospitals of an Urgent Medical Device Recall of its LFIT Anatomic Cobalt Chrome V39 femoral heads manufactured before 2011. Stryker received what it called a “higher than expected” number of reports from doctors of taper lock failure.
What is taper lock failure? The taper is the very narrow end of the femoral stem where it connects to the ball of the hip implant. When the taper lock – the connection between the stem and the ball – fails, the hip can become unstable and a number of complications can result. Because the Stryker LFit V39 femoral heads are made of a cobalt chromium alloy, the metal can corrode, releasing cobalt and chromium fragments into the tissue. The corrosion can also result in fractures and loosening of the implant.
Potential Taper Lock Failures Associated with Stryker LFIT V39 Femoral Heads
- Disassociation of the femoral head from the hip stem. Literally, the hip implant comes apart.
- Fractured hip stem trunnion
- Excessive metallic debris
- Metallosis
- Insufficient ROM (range of motion)
- Insufficient soft tissue tension
- Noise (clicking, grinding, popping, clunking)
- Loss of implant to bone fixation strength
- Excessive wear debris
- Implant construct with a shortened neck length
Patient Complications From Defective Stryker LFIT V39 Femoral Heads
If you have a defective Stryker LFit V39 femoral head as part of your hip implant, you may have experienced the following complications:
- Adverse local tissue reaction
- Broken bones around components
- Dislocation
- Inflammation
- Joint instability
- Leg length discrepancy
- Loss of mobility
- Pain
- Revision surgery necessary
Was Your Stryker Hip Implant Recalled?
Physicians began notifying patients of this recall in September 2016. If you don’t know the implant number, call your doctor’s office. They will have it.
Here are the specific models subject to the recall:
Catalog Number Head Diameter Offset
6260-9-236 36mm +5
6260-9-239 39mm +4
6260-9-244 44mm +4
6260-9-339 39mm +8
6260·9-439 39mm +12
6260-9-344 44mm +8
6260-9-444 44mm +12
If you have received notification of this recall, you should consult with an attorney to make sure that your legal rights are properly protected.
What If You Have a Different Stryker Hip Implant?
This is not the first Stryker corporation hip implant component recall. Stryker previously recalled the ABG II and Rejuvenant hip replacements in July of 2012. Those were also metal-on-metal hip implants.
Do I Have a Case?
If you have a defective metal-on-metal hip implant, whether from Stryker Orthopaedics, or those manufactured by Biomet, Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Orthopaedics, Wright Conserve, or Zimmer Holdings, you may be eligible to file a claim for money damages. You may be compensated for lost income, medical expenses for revision and replacement surgery, damages for pain and suffering, physical injuries, and any other losses you suffered as a result of your defective hip implant. Contact the Boston law firm of Thornton Law Firm LLP online or call Attorney Marilyn McGoldrick at 1-888-341-1405 for a consultation with a specialist in hip implant litigation. The consultation is free and confidential. We look forward to discussing your potential legal case with you.
