Shocking statistics

The Times Colonist reported the shocking statistics that of the 51,000 Canadians that had undergone a first time knee or hip replacement since 2005, more than 7,700 had to return to the hospital because of complications. Of that number, approximately one percent, or 780 patients had to have their surgeries completely redone. The article also provided the following statistics:

• Patients hardest hit were those who contracted infections
• Men were more likely to get infections than women
• Patients with diabetes had higher rates of infection
• Knee surgery patients had to return to the hospital nearly four times more than hip surgery patients

To see the article, go to www.canada.com/.

Are companies like the Stryker Corporation partially responsible?

Industry analysts, attorneys and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) think so and are looking at the same issue in the United States. Here’s what each of them is saying:

• Industry analysts. Industry analysts point to companies like the Stryker Corporation who recently recalled its line of Trident PSL and Hemispherical Acetabular Cups. This line of hip implants uses ceramic-on-ceramic components rather than metal-on-metal or metal-on-plastic components. Patients have complained about pain, difficulty in walking, pieces of the ceramic materials breaking off, wearing unevenly and squeaking (click here to listen to an actual squeaking hip.)
• Attorneys. According to Doug Kreis, a Florida attorney whose firm is representing patients, doctors are simply feeding patients with the information that Stryker has told them. He explained, “Doctors know that something is wrong, but that’s all they know. Stryker often blames the doctors for implanting the products improperly and accuses them of malpractice.”
• FDA. According to the FDA, Stryker received complaints from patients as far back as January 2005 including 1) improper seating of hip implants in broached bones resulting in bone fractures, 2) Trident Hemispherical and Trident PSL cups failed to function; hip implant components have poor fixation. In some instances, these problems have required revision surgeries and 3) squeaking noises of hip implants with ceramic bearing components; some of those problems resulted in revision surgeries due to implant failures (fractures, pain, wear particles, and fragments).

If you are experiencing problems with Stryker’s Trident PSL and Hemispherical Acetabular Cups, contact an experienced attorney who has been following this issue to discuss your situation. For a free, no-obligation consultation, please click here.