Patients Who Suffer From Symptoms of Stryker Cobalt Toxicity

Following the recall of the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII hip implant devices in July, 2012, many of the nearly 20,000 recipients of the recalled implants wondered whether they were at risk for symptoms of Stryker cobalt toxicity. With a titanium stem and a cobalt and chromium neck, during periods of physical activity these metal parts rub against one another, causing tiny metal shards to shear away. Even though studies done over a decade ago warned against mixing metals, Stryker chose to pair these dissimilar metals in their new design. The Stryker recall cautioned patients regarding the risks of fretting and corrosion, leading to the excess generation of metal debris. While not specifically mentioned, symptoms of Stryker cobalt toxicity are likely, once the metal implant has begun to shed these cobalt and chromium ions.

Until metal hip devices began being implanted, cobalt toxicity was rarely seen other than in industrial factories. Symptoms of Stryker cobalt toxicity include chronic and severe headaches, fatigue, nausea, vertigo, memory loss, diminishment of cognitive functions, hearing and visual impairments, cardiomyopathy, tremors and loss of coordination, renal failures and anxiety, irritability and depression. While cobalt is present naturally in the body, those with no unusual environmental exposure to cobalt will have less than 0.41 micrograms per deciliter of cobalt in their bloodstream—equal to a tiny grain of sand and not sufficient to cause symptoms of Stryker cobalt toxicity.

Cobalt levels above 5 micrograms per deciliter in the bloodstream are generally believed to be toxic to the human body. Following the recall of the Stryker implants and many reports of symptoms of Stryker cobalt toxicity, most physicians recommend blood tests every three months for implant recipients. Any patient with worsening hip or groin pain along with symptoms of Stryker cobalt toxicity should speak with their doctor in order to determine whether revision surgery is the best course of action. After ensuring their health is protected, recipients of the recalled Rejuvenate or ABGII could benefit from speaking to an experienced Stryker attorney who can assess the individual situation and lay out possible courses of action. 

Patients Who Experience Stryker Metal on Metal Poisoning Symptoms

Stryker metal on metal poisoning symptoms can occur when an accumulation of metal debris in the bloodstream of the body takes place due to defective metal hip implant devices. Stryker’s Rejuvenate and ABGII were recalled in July, 2012, after scores of patients reported experiencing Stryker metal on metal poisoning symptoms. Stryker stated the two hip implant devices were recalled due to fretting and corrosion leading to excess metal debris and hip failure. Although Stryker did not mention the actual rate of hip failure, many independent studies put that number as high as 40%.

Despite the fact that the Stryker recalled hip implants utilized a ceramic ball, rather than a metal one, corrosion was found to occur at the junction between the titanium stem and the cobalt and chromium neck. Corrosion was also found to occur beneath the small metal trunnions located at either end of the neck portion. These areas of corrosion were responsible for tiny metal particles shearing away from the implant, lodging in the surrounding tissue or the bloodstream. The metal ions in the bloodstream are responsible for Stryker metal on metal poisoning symptoms including: cardiovascular issues, loss of hearing and vision, chronic headaches, vertigo and other balance issues, short-term memory loss, neurological problems, including seizures and tremors, reproductive disorders, the development of pseudo-tumors and even disruption of DNA.

Other issues such as anxiety, irritability and depression have also been found to occur in those suffering from Stryker metal on metal poisoning symptoms. Aside from Stryker metal on metal poisoning symptoms, when the metal shards burrow into the hip tissues, inflammation, pain, infection, bone loss and tissue deterioration can occur. When the implant is removed, doctors will typically see a gray discoloration of the tissue surrounding the hip implant, meaning the tissue is starved for oxygen and has begun to die.

Implant recipients who are particularly sensitive to heavy metals are more likely to experience Stryker metal on metal poisoning symptoms than those with a higher tolerance for metals. Although both chromium and cobalt cause considerable damage to the body, cobalt is the more serious of Stryker metal on metal poisoning symptoms. Liver damage and cancer are among the more serious risks of excess cobalt in the body. Those patients who have experienced Stryker metal on metal poisoning symptoms should see their physician and have regular blood tests done to monitor metal levels.

When Patients Develop Stryker Cobalt Toxicity

Any patient with a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII hip device implanted in their body can suffer from Stryker cobalt toxicity. Although these two particular models do not implement a metal ball, the use of a metal liner, the metal neck junction and the small metal trunnions located on either end of the neck portion can lead to microscopic cobalt and chromium ions shearing away into the body. When the metal ions lodge in the hip tissues, infection, severe inflammation, bone and tissue loss and chronic pain can occur in the implant recipient.

Stryker cobalt toxicity can occur when those particles reach the bloodstream, causing a number of very serious health issues. Cobalt is not an accumulating metal; it resides in the liver where it is processed out through urine output in those with fully functioning livers. This means that in most cases, when the implant is removed, through revision surgery, the dangerous levels of cobalt should subside, and the symptoms of Stryker cobalt toxicity should lessen. Stryker cobalt toxicity can cause such symptoms as irregularities of the heart, certain types of cancers, chronic headaches, vision and hearing loss, irritability, depression, anxiety, renal and thyroid disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, disruption of DNA and the formation of pseudo-tumors.

Stryker cobalt toxicity is a serious concern among those with a Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII recalled implant. Recipients of the hip devices may wonder what the safe levels of cobalt truly are.  While some scientists believe the levels of cobalt are not harmful until they reach over 7 parts per million, others believe that anything over 3 parts per million can result in Stryker cobalt toxicity and the need for revision surgery. Further, some implant recipients are more sensitive to heavy metals and, while they may test relatively low for cobalt levels, the patient may have serious Stryker cobalt toxicity symptoms. Others with higher cobalt levels may have not yet experienced Stryker cobalt toxicity symptoms.

Another source of Stryker cobalt toxicity may be linked to the fact that the titanium-coated stem does not mix well with the cobalt and chromium neck piece, leading to excessive corrosion where the two metals meet. Even though Stryker sprayed the pieces with a proprietary formula meant to “cure” the issues regarding mixed alloys, excessive corrosion has been found time after time at the junction where the metals meet. Any Stryker cobalt toxicity symptoms should be reported promptly to a physician, and regular blood tests should be done to monitor the levels of cobalt and chromium.

When a Patient Exhibits Stryker Metal Poisoning Symptoms

Patients who were implanted with a Stryker ABGII or Rejuvenate metal hip implant may have been exposed to the accumulation of cobalt and chromium metals in the body, leading to Stryker metal poisoning symptoms. Even though the two Stryker models—recalled in July, 2012—utilize a ceramic ball, a metal liner is sometimes used. Further, there is a metal junction between the neck and stem, as well as small metal trunnions located on either end of the neck piece. Any time the implant recipient engages in physical activity, the metal components rub against one another, creating friction and the release of metal ions.

Stryker metal poisoning symptoms can result when that friction releases tiny metal particles into the body.Metallosis can occur when the metal particles lodge in the hip tissues, leading to inflammation, chronic pain, infection and the destruction of bone and tissue. Stryker metal poisoning symptoms are likely to occur when those same metal ions make their way to the patient’s bloodstream. Cobalt is not stored in the body—and once the implant is removed, the levels of cobalt and the Stryker metal poisoning symptoms should lessen. Chromium is stored in human tissue, therefore if there is any compromise in the renal system, the Stryker metal poisoning symptoms may continue even when the implant is removed.

Some of the more common Stryker metal poisoning symptoms include: Thyroid and renal issues, cardiovascular and neurological disorders, loss of short-term memory, DNA disruption, anxiety, irritability, depression, chronic headaches, loss of vision and hearing, vertigo, skin disorders, gastrointestinal disorders and the formation of pseudo-tumors. In the most serious cases, cobalt poisoning can lead to extremely severe Stryker metal poisoning symptoms such as seizures and brain damage as well as cancer.

Some patients with a Stryker metal hip implant have been tested with levels of cobalt and chromium well over 100 times what is considered normal, which can lead to serious Stryker metal poisoning symptoms. It is extremely serious that all Stryker implant recipients have regular blood work done, particularly when there are symptoms of Stryker metal poisoning or pain. It could also be in the patient’s best interests to speak with a knowledgeable Stryker attorney who can assess the situation and lay out a proper course of action.

The Problems Associated With the Recalled Stryker Rejuvenate

Like the Stryker ABGII, the Stryker Rejuvenate was recalled over a year ago, in July, 2012. At the time of the recall, Stryker officials stated the Stryker Rejuvenate had a higher-than-normal rate of failure due to corrosion and fretting, leading to metal ion debris being released into the bodies of patients. Stryker chose to use a ceramic ball in the Stryker Rejuvenate rather than a cobalt and chromium ball as well as creating a dual modularity design for the Stryker Rejuvenate. The design features of the Stryker Rejuvenate allowed surgeons to custom fit each hip implant device to the individual patient’s body type and activity level.

The Stryker Rejuvenate was geared toward younger, more active patients, and most of the thousands of patients who received a Stryker Rejuvenate believed it to be a safer alternative to the all-metal hip implant devices. Unfortunately those beliefs were shattered when patients began seeing adverse health symptoms soon after they received their Stryker Rejuvenate implant. A combination of issues in the Stryker Rejuvenate worked together to create a potentially dangerous hip implant device. The longer stem of the Stryker Rejuvenate made it more difficult to remove should a revision become necessary. The coating on the implant was thick and particularly porous, to encourage the bone to grow into the implant, once again making it more difficult to remove.

A serious mismatch between the titanium stem portion and the cobalt and chromium neck could also be responsible for the extremely high levels of metal ions released in Stryker Rejuvenate patients. Studies done over a decade ago found corrosion to be significantly higher in hip implants—such as the Stryker Rejuvenate—which used dissimilar metals. A more recent study noted that a galvanic reaction occurred when the titanium stem and chromium and cobalt adapter sleeve of the Stryker Rejuvenate were mixed. Researchers believe that galvanic reaction occurs due to the harder cobalt and chromium metals.

Patients who have a Stryker Rejuvenate hip device implanted in their body should be alert for any adverse health effects; metal toxicity can cause a variety of symptoms such as loss of hearing and vision, vertigo, depression, anxiety and irritability, skin disorders, DNA disruption, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, renal and thyroid disorders, some forms of cancer, reproductive issues and loss of memory.