Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII and DePuy ASR Hip Implants: Airport I.D. Card Misidentification

In light of DePuy Orthopedics’ 2010 recall of its ASR hip implant and the more recent 2012 recall issued by Stryker of its Rejuvenate and ABGII hip implants, the need for hip implant recipients to properly identify the exact type of hip replacement device they have has become increasingly more important. The DePuy ASR hip implant was recalled due to findings of elevated Chromium and Cobalt levels, blood toxicity, metallosis, and other medical issues in implant recipients. The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII hip implants were recalled because of the propensity of hardware components to corrode, resulting in pain and discomfort and other health issues in implant recipients.

Now, while metal on metal hip implants have been in several markets for a number of years, many hip implant recipients may not be properly informed as to what specific hip replacement device they were implanted with. Specifically, numerous hip implant recipients do not have an accurate accounting of the specific manufacturer, type, and/or model of hip replacement device used in their procedure. As a result, not only do these individuals not know what hip implant they have, but they are also unaware of what their legal rights are to pursue a products liability claim against a manufacturer of a defective device.

How Can Misidentification of Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII and DePuy ASR Hip Implants Happen?

· It is usual and customary for orthopedic surgeons performing hip replacement surgeries to choose a specific make and model hip implant for a patient based on the latest research, implant availability, patient lifestyle, medical conditions, contraindications, and other considerations.

·Once an Orthopedic Surgeon chooses a particular hip implant, the device manufacturer ships out the implant hardware, as well as, in some instances, a set of “Airport I.D. Cards” for the physician to hand out to recipients of that particular hip implant.

· These “Airport I.D. Cards” were manufacturer-specific, and would generally state relevant information about the hip implant, including the brand name and model number.

· The primary purpose of these cards however was NOT to correctly identify the type of implant received by the patient, but rather to simply make security personnel aware that the individual had an implanted device that may or may not set off airport security check point metal detectors, and that different security protocols may be necessary.

· As such, some physicians would actually distribute whatever airport I.D. cards they had in their possession to patients irrespective of the particular implant that a patient had received.

·After 9/11, hip implant recipients were subjected to additional security screenings without regard to these cards, and as a result, many physicians decided to stop distributing airport I.D. cards completely.

How likely are Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII and DePuy ASR Hip Implant Misidentifications?

There is a strong possibility that many hip replacement patients may have misidentified the hip implant device that they were implanted with. The distribution and use of Airport I.D. Cards over the years has certainly allowed for this possibility. Perhaps the most serious issues may come from individuals who, upon learning of a particular device recall, referenced their Airport I.D. Card, and mistakenly determined that they had no reason for concern since the device listed on the card did not match the one slated for recall.

Where Do Stryker Rejuvenate/ABGII and DePuy ASR Hip Implant Recipients Go from Here?

Hip Implant recipients need to determine what type of hip replacement device they were implanted with. While the recently recalled Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII models and the DePuy ASR model (recalled in 2010) may spark the most cause for alarm, it is important for individuals to find out and take note of whatever hip implant replacement device they received. Products Liability attorneys can often times assist hip implant recipients in making this determination by requesting relevant medical records from physicians and hospitals. They can also assist individuals by protecting and preserving rights and legal claims where possible.

Metal on metal hips have been the target of quite a bit of controversy as of late, and just because an implant device has not been recalled to date, does not mean that it will not be the subject of a recall in the future. The fates of the metal on metal hip implant devices currently on the market are uncertain, and if something happens that directly affects certain hip implant recipients, it is always a good idea to be in a position to know if there is reason for individual concern.