Stryker Finalized its Purchase of Mako Surgical Corporation

As the year 2013 draws to a close, Stryker has fnalized its purchase of Mako Surgical Corp., its rival medical device manufacturing company that utilizes robot-assisted orthopaedic surgical procedures. As reported by Reuters last September 2013, Stryker paid $1.65 billion to acquire this technology.

 

According to legal analysts, Stryker is seemingly creating new strategies to stay on top of the medical device sector amidst the several legal endeavors the company face due to the recalled Stryker hip replacement devices.

 

Presently, Stryker faces a number of lawsuits filed by the affected patients of the Rejuvenate and ABG II hip replacement devices which were voluntarily recalled by the company in July 2012 due to safety issues. Majority of the filed lawsuits have been consolidated into a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) and a multicounty litigation (MCL).

Read More: Stryker Finalizes Its Acquisition of Mako Surgical Corporation 

Stryker Faces a New Lawsuit Due to Hip Replacement Issues

A new plaintiff has filed a lawsuit against Stryker Corp. due to the company’s hip replacement products. The lawsuit was filed on November 19, 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois in Peoria.

 

The plaintiff, Mary Kay McDowell, underwent a total hip replacement surgery on March 15, 2012. On September 7, 2012, she was notified by her surgeon about the recall of the Stryker hip devices due to safety issues. She then agreed to undergo a revision surgery to remove and replace the devices. However, she was unable to regain her normal full mobility and range of motion.

 

With this, McDowell is seeking compensation from Stryker Corp. for the damages caused by the early failure of the company’s hip replacement products.

 

Read More: Stryker Plaintiff Alleges Injuries Caused by Trident, Rejuvenate Hips

Judges Orders Stryker Lawsuit Consolidation in Minnesota

It has been learned through the injury lawsuit newswire the consolidation of federal Stryker hip lawsuits that applied to all lawsuits filed by those who have been injured by Stryker’s Rejuvenate and ABG II hip replacements in Minnesota was ordered by the federal court to be conducted on June 12.

Miss Rochelle Rottenstein, principal of Rottenstein Lawsuit Group, said in a press statement that this consolidation of pre-trial proceeding is beneficial to complaints and litigants. It provides more efficient, cost-effective avenue to trials, while retaining potential for individual compensation for each complainant.

As a form of clarification, the Rottenstein Law Group has issued a statement in response to the court order on the Stryker consolidation of federal in Minnesota.

Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II hip replacements have been recalled last July 2012 because of data showing that the modular necks of these devices had been to fretting and corrosion, thus causing swelling on the tissues surrounding the implant and causing painful movement.

Health Problems Trigger Preference for MoM Hip Replacement Implants

In 2008, metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacement patients aired concerns about the potential risks associated with the implant, online sources say. Surgery-bound men and women found out that MoM hips wear out at an accelerated rate, according to an article at Orthopedics.about.com/od/hipkneeimplants/p/metal-hip-replacements.htm. MoM hip implants are designed to work more effectively and to last longer than other hip implant materials. These implants are found to be associated with unique health complications. People have the tendency to go after the latest model of hip replacement implants, believing that it may be better than the previous models. In fact, there are a growing number of lawsuits in the US filed against MoM manufacturers.

MoM hip replacement implants have become popular despite negative reports. There are millions of MoM hip patients who are at risk of exposing themselves with dangerously high levels of metal, a condition known as metallosis. This condition arises due to the friction between the two metallic surfaces of the ball-and-socket. These metallic particles may potentially cause inflammation on the soft tissues and bones surrounding the implant. There have been a small number of cases in which toxic chromium and cobalt ions have leaked into the lymph nodes, liver and kidneys before leaving the body as urine.

Because of these unfortunate events, MoM patients are advised to undergo annual blood examination to monitor the level of metal particles in their blood. It is also recommended to MoM patients to pay close attention on their general health, including the new or worsening symptoms outside their hips. The FDA is recommending that asymptomatic patients with MoM hip implants continue to follow-up with their orthopaedic surgeon every one to two years to monitor for early signs of change in hip status.

One popular brand of MoM hip implants is Stryker. It keeps two known products, Rejuvenate and ABG II, which have been very controversial. These products were marketed to provide increased stability, better movement, and superior fit over other hip replacement products available in the market. However, these hip implants have been recalled due to dangerous health complications. Because of these concerns, these implants should be closely monitored to watch for potential problem. You may visit this website about Stryker Rejuvenate Modular hip replacement recall for more related information.

References:

• orthopedics.about.com/od/hipkneeimplants/p/metal-hip-replacements.htm
• medicalnewstoday.com/articles/247151.php
• guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/28/hip-replacement-joints-scare-metal
• fda.gov/Medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/implantsandprosthetics/metalonmetalhipimplants/ucm241604.htm
• dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2004218/Thousands-hip-op-patients-fear-poisoned-metal-prosthetics.html

Techniques Beneficial for Speedy Recovery from Hip Replacement Surgery

There are several techniques (methods) which are believed to be effective in aiding hip replacement patients to recover faster from the operation, online sources say. They are given with precautions and exercises to be followed after the surgery. A patient may acquired the best outcome by following instructions and sustaining some limitations during recovery, as stated by sutterhealth.org/orthopedics/hip/recovery-from-hip-replacement.html. It must be taken seriously since it is a major procedure, and by following these techniques, a patient may have increased chances of fast recovery, with less risk of unwanted health side effects.

Fast recovery may require you to decide for a doctor with more than enough experience in hip replacement surgery. You need him or her to guide you throughout the healing process.

Physical therapy is also one of the essential techniques required after hip replacement surgery. It aims to help the patient to be able to walk safely and prevent further complications, such as dislocation of the hip implant or suffer other injuries. A set of simple bed exercises is given by your physical therapist to prevent the development of blood clots and tightening of the thighs, squeezing of the buttocks, or pointing your feet up and down.

The coordination between your doctor and physical therapist may greatly help you in recovering your range of motion and flexibility and continue with your normal daily life. These set of exercises also help build strength, as well as improve the motion of your hip. These are some of the simple bed exercises which may help you achieve fast recovery from the hip replacement operation:

• Ankle pumps and circles
• Thigh squeezes (quadriceps sets)
• Heel slides (hip and knee flexion)
• Leg slides (abduction/adduction)
• Lying kicks (short arc quadriceps)
• Buttock squeezes (gluteal sets)
• Sitting kicks (long arc quadriceps)

Among the known brands for hip replacement devices is Stryker. Experts found out that metal implants produced tiny metal debris, causing incessant pain or infection and high levels of metal in the bloodstream.

References:
• allinahealth.org/ac/patiented.nsf/page/hip_exercises_home
• livestrong.com/article/452616-exercises-for-post-hip-replacement/
• arthritisselfmanagement.com/health/surgery/recovering-from-total-hip-replacement/?page=all
• joshuahickmanmd.com/physicaltherapyafteryourtotalhipreplacement
• ucsfhealth.org/education/recovering_from_hip_replacement_surgery/