Stryker recommends more vigilant monitoring of patients with recalled hip implants (MassDevice)
Stryker's Australian division recommends regular blood tests and soft tissue imaging for all patients implanted with the now-recalled ABG II Modular metal-on-metal implants.
Stryker's Australian arm provided national health regulators with updated recommendations for monitoring patients who received the company's now-recalled ABG II Modular hip systems.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Admin. issued the new guidelines for patient follow-up, advising regular blood testing and soft tissue cross-sectional imaging for all ABG II patients, even in the absence of pain or swelling.
Orthopedic giant Stryker in July 2012 recalled its Rejuvenate Modular femoral stems and ABG II Modular necks, halting global production over concerns that the devices may be prone to "fretting and/or corrosion at or about the modular-neck junction," which may lead to pain, swelling and adverse reactions in surrounding tissue.
The original warnings recommended that physicians continue their usual routine for monitoring patients implanted with the hip implants in question, resorting to blood work and MRI or ultrasound sc...
