Compensation claims for Rejuvenate hip implants have taken a step forward with the announcement that twenty cases sent for mediation have been resolved.
Stryker´s Rejuvenate and ABG II hip implants were recalled in 2012 after it was found that cobalt and chromium was leaching from the implants and causing inflammation, tissue wear and the failure of the implants.
Unlike the highly publicized Depuy ASR hip implant recall – due to metal-on-metal friction between the cup and the ball of the implant – the metallosis in Rejuvenate and ABG II hip implants originates from a poorly fitting joint in the stem of the implant.
Consequently, revision surgery to replace Rejuvenate and ABG II hip implants is significantly more invasive and involves a surgeon removing the stem of the implant from the patient´s femur. Cables are then placed around the femur to allow it to heal before a new hip implant can be fitted.
The consequences to the patient are that the procedure takes considerably longer than other types of hip revision surgery, and the patient suffers more residual disability. These factors impact settlements of compensation claims for Rejuvenate hip implants and ABG II hip implants, as the patient experiences a greater level of pain and suffering and is immobile for a considerably longer period of time.
More than 4,000 compensation claims for Rejuvenate hip implants and ABG II hip implants have been made against Stryker to date and, according to a court document issued earlier this month, twenty claims which form part of the multi-county litigation (MCL) taking place in Bergen County, New Jersey, have been resolved.
No details are available about how much compensation for Rejuvenate hip implants each plaintiff has received as this may compromise future trials but, in addition to the settlements, the Honorable Brian R Martinotti – the judge presiding over the Bergen County MCL – announced that two “bellwether” cases have been scheduled for June 15 and July 13, 2015.
This is a significant step forward in the litigation process for plaintiffs who are waiting to resolve their compensation claims for Rejuvenate hip implants, and although there has been no movement in the multi-district litigation in progress in Minnesota under Judge Donovan Frank, it could signal an early conclusion for everybody who has suffered an injury due to a faulty Rejuvenate or ABG II hip implant.
Potential plaintiffs who have not yet made compensation claims for Rejuvenate hip implants and ABG II hip implants should speak with a lawyer as soon as practically possible.