When you have a hip replacement procedure done, you do so under the assumption that the device will be safe. Unfortunately, not every product is made perfectly. Such are the allegations with the recent uptick in Stryker Accolade V40 Taper failures.
The problem stems from metal-related poisoning, bone and tissue damage, and unnecessary revision surgery due to premature hip implant failure. With the Stryker V40 cases, there are two specific types of injuries, which may give the patient grounds for a products liability lawsuit.
- Metallosis cases. – Metallosis is a type of metal poisoning occurring from metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants or other modular hip implant devices, which causes increased levels of cobalt and/or chromium in the patient among other issues. This is the more common of the two types of Stryker V40 cases. In the event of metallosis, patients display bone and tissue damage, severe pain, and inflammatory fluid surrounding the implant. These issues call for revision surgery due to premature device failure.
- Dissociation cases. – Although dissociation cases are more rare than metallosis cases, the corrosive process is particularly violent. The V40 taper becomes ground down by the metal head and takes on the shape of a bird beak causing a dissociated head. In these cases the implant will actually fall off and separate from the neck of the implant. This dramatic change is extremely serious as it happens without warning and calls for immediate emergency surgery.
It is yet to be seen if a formal recall will be announced for the Stryker V40. However, there are multiple published reports detailing catastrophic failures of the implant in medical literature, specifically the Stryker’s Accolade TMZF stem and its LFIT-V40 chrome/cobalt heads. The reports describe how the heads of the implants become increasingly corroded causing toggling on the trunnion. This process ultimately causes spontaneous dissociation, meaning the head falls off of the stem. This is a very serious issue and a trigger for emergency surgery to remove and replace the stem and the head. In addition, there have also been published reports of premature hip implant failure, which causes metallosis. This issue also calls for revision surgery to remedy the problem.
If you have been seriously injured as a result of this product or another defective product, contact an attorney to find out more about a products liability lawsuit.
