RLG Encouraged by Recommendation for Hip Replacement Recipients to Visit Doctors; Reports Put Cost of Stryker Recall at $390 Million
RLG is encouraged by hip replacement system maker Stryker’s recommendation this week that all recipients of its recalled Rejuvenate and ABG II devices see a doctor, even if no symptoms of harm are present.
According to a Wednesday Reuters report, Stryker Corp has announced that the recall of two of the company’s hip implant device that began last June “will cost $190 million to $390 million for patient testing and treatment, new surgeries, lawsuits and insurance payments.”
The eventual total cost of the recall will depend on several factors, Stryker said in the Reuters article, including the number of patients who require testing and followup procedures and the cost of lawsuits. Stryker advised all patients who have the Rejuvenate Modular or ABG II modular-neck hip implants to consult a doctor.
“It is encouraging at least that Stryker is recommending doctor visits for anyone who received a recalled device,” said Rochelle Rottenstein, principal of the Rottenstein Law Group, which represents clients with claims stemming from the failures of defective hip replacement devices manufactured and sold by various companies—including Stryker Corp. “Many victims are reluctant to return to the doctor, for fear that they’ll get bad news. No one wants to have further surgery, or learn that their current hip is poisoning them from the inside. But the most important thing is a person’s health. After a victim speaks to a doctor, then he or she can—and should—talk to a lawyer.”
The Stryker devices were recalled in early July 2012 because the devices are prone to fretting and corrosion, which can cause the recipient’s tissue around the implant to swell and become painful. Among other things, the new site offers a free informational brochure and has features that allow for easy sharing, including links for automatic posting on Facebook and Twitter, specifically to enable visitors to spread the word about the recalled Stryker hip implants and the dangers of the devices. RLG, a personal injury firm, encourages visitors to link to its sites from their own blogs and Web sites to spread information about defective medical products and dangerous drugs.
