Stryker Hip Stem Recall Raises Warnings (Orthopedics This Week)
While a blue ribbon FDA panel was wrestling with problems associated with metal-on-metal hips, Stryker Corporation was voluntarily recalling its Rejuvenate and ABG II modular-neck stems used during hip replacement surgery. The recall was announced July 6.
Is this the next phase of hip failures?
Only July 9, OTW's Elizabeth Hofheinz reported that Ryan Nunley, M.D., an assistant professor of orthopedics at Washington University in St. Louis, said, “...the next line of metal related issues that we’re beginning to see is with modular metal necks. Traditional total hips were all one piece (monoblock), but more recently some companies have jumped on the modular neck bandwagon. We are seeing corrosion at the location where the modular metal neck snaps into the body of the femoral stem, which is leading to a significant amount of metal ion release.”
“Companies are saying that these necks have been tested and are stable—and yes, they are likely not overly susceptible to fracture anymore. But there is clearly micro motion rubbing at the junction generating the metal debris and causing tissue necrosis and pseudotumor formation. T...
