Stryker Rejuvenate Failures Not Limited To United States

Since we have become aware of Stryker Rejuvenate hip implant failures, our experience has been limited to inquiries from patients in the United States. We have had inquiries from patients in many states across the country.

This week we were contacted by a woman in England. Her husband had his hip replaced with a Stryker Rejuvenate in 2010. His experience with the device was similar to many others we have spoken with. First, he started feeling pain in his groin. The pain progressed until it started affecting his mobility. His doctor conducted a series of tests to see if he had an infection, if the device was in proper position or if there was any loosening. All tests proved negative.

Finally, after his doctor discovered similar issues with several other patients who had also received the Rejuvenate hip, he decided to revise the hip.

Intraoperative findings were consistent with metallosis. The doctor sent several explanted devices back to Stryker for inspection and testing. According to the patient, his doctor was told there was nothing wrong with the implant.

It appears that in addition to the data that is just beginning to develop in the United States, we will be seeing data collected in the UK. Although embarrassing, the Australians and English have sophisticated device failure registries, along with most of Europe. Often, we will see robust data about device failures develop in other countries well before it is on our radar in the United States. You don’t have to look too far into the past to see evidence of this phenomenon. The Europeans and Australians published data showing the DePuy ASR device was failing at an alarmingly high rate well before it was known in the United States.