Stryker Spinal Implant
Stryker Spinal Implant Recall
Did you undergo spinal implant surgery for degenerative scoliosis and experience implant failure? If so, the manufacturer of your implant may be to blame. In 2018 Stryker Corporation recalled their 3D Tritanium Posterior Lumbar (PL) Cage due to the implant’s high fracturing risk. Over 28,000 of Stryker’s defective spinal implants were on the market when they were recalled in 2018, so thousands of individuals could be at risk of complications from their faulty spinal implant.
If you experienced complications and pain after your spinal implant surgery, your Stryker tritanium cage may be the culprit and entitle you to compensation for your suffering. Our personal injury lawyers can help you pursue compensation for the costs of medical bills and pain and suffering caused by your Stryker spinal implant compensations. We have decades of experience in product liability law, so we understand how to build a case tailored for success. Contact the McGartland Law Firm today for your free, no-obligation case evaluation today.
What is the Stryker 3D-Printed Tritanium Posterior Lumbar (PL) Cage
Stryker’s 3D-Printed Tritanium Posterior Lumbar (PL) cage was first approved in 2015 as an addition to fusion for spinal implant patients with degenerative disc disorder (DDD) or degenerative scoliosis. The cage was manufactured using a 3D-printing technology and a combination metal called tritanium. Tritanium is a metal alloy consisting of titanium, steel, aluminum, and cobalt alloys.
Stryker’s Howmedica Osteonics designed the PL cage so bone graft could be packed inside, increasing the surface area of the device as it comes into contact with bone. This process helps normalize bone structure, therefore providing relief for spinal surgery patients. The cage was commonly used for minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion or posterior lumbar interbody fusion.
Fracturing Risk with Stryker Tritanium PL Cage
However, in late 2018 the FDA issued a Class 2 Recall for the 3D-Printed Tritanium PL cage. Stryker claimed they received reports of the cage fracturing during and after surgery. The high fracturing rate caused patients to experience severe complications and persistent pain, leading to the need for a revision surgery to correct the failed implant. On the FDA’s website, Stryker’s Howmedica Osteonics claimed “the surgical technique is being updated to caution against misuse due to reports of cage fractures occurring intraoperatively and postoperatively.” Stryker claimed the fracturing was due to “medical misuse,” shifting blame onto surgeons implanting the cages.
However, a larger number of FDA Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) reports showed that the cages showed signs of instability before they were ever implanted into patients. Reports revealed high levels of the tritanium spinal implants fracturing while being inserted into patients even if Stryker’s insertion instructions were directly followed. Many surgeons suspect the cage itself, not the surgical technique or the surgeon, are the reason for the implant fracturing and failing.
Increasing lawsuits against Stryker claim that the manufacturing giant deceptively marketed the PL cage knowing it was unsafe to implant in patients. When the FDA issued the recall, there were 28,461 tritanium PL cages on the market. Patients complain of persistent pain, discomfort, and suffering from their failed implant, which needs an invasive surgery to be replaced and repaired.
If your Stryker tritanium cage failed and caused your pain and suffering, we’re here to help you recover. Connect with the award-winning product liability lawyers with the McGartland Law Firm today.
Recover Compensation for Your Injuries
If a product’s manufacturer neglects to warn patients about potential hazards or risks connected to their products, you have the right to file a claim against them for your injuries. Their duty is to ensure their products are safe to use, so their failure should not define your suffering. If you suffered from a fractured Stryker tritanium PL cage, you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries.
The McGartland Law Firm, PLLC is ready to be your advocate in your time of need. We handle the work of building a case, battling insurance companies, and fighting for maximal compensation for your injuries so you can focus on healing. Additionally, you pay nothing out of pocket for our services. We operate on a contingent-fee basis, meaning we only get paid when we win or settle your case. For your free case consultation and to discuss your legal rights, call us today or fill out a contact form below; we will be in touch to schedule your case evaluation.