Richard E. Vollertsen, of The Alaska Personal Injury Law Group, has been selected as Alaska counsel for the New York law firm, Weitz & Luxenberg, to assist in defective product claims concerning hip implant devices manufactured by Stryker Orthopedics. Weitz & Luxenberg has been designated as one of the lead counsel of the litigation filed in New Jersey, and are nationally-recognized counsel with extensive expertise in such claims.
In July, 2012, Stryker recalled its Rejuvenate and ABG II modular-neck hip stems because of fretting and corrosion at the modular-neck junction. When this corrosion occurs, local tissue damage and systemic toxic metal exposure can occur. Adverse effects of the implant’s failure include pain, fluid buildup in the joint, pseudotumor, localized tissue necrosis, and loss of blood supply to the bone causing bone cell death. These problems often require that the implant be removed and replaced in a revision surgery. Before revision is undertaken, physicians will complete blood testing to determine the level of toxic metal exposure from the cobalt and chromium in the implant, and will take MRI images to determine the health of the tissue and bone surrounding the implant.
Multiple claims for Alaska residents have now been asserted in this litigation.