Hazard Alert: Stryker Hip Implant LFIT V40 Metal Heads – Taper Lock Failure

• October 5, 2016
• Hip Replacements, FDA

On September 27, 2016, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia, in consultation with Stryker Orthopaedics, issued a hazard alert for a specific range of LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 femoral heads.

Femoral heads are a modular component used in total hip replacement procedures. If you have had a hip implant, contact your doctor to find out what was used.

Hazard Alert Issued on 7 Stryker Products

According to the hazard alert, some LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 femoral heads manufactured before 2011 have a higher than expected incidence of taper lock failures.

Four Stryker products have been identified; however, three other products with similar specifications have also been included in the hazard alert as an additional precaution.

The catalog number, head diameter and offset for each of these products is as follows:

• 6260-9-236, 36mm, +5
• 6260-9-240, 40mm, +4
• 6260-9-244, 44mm, +4
• 6260-9-340, 40mm, +8
• 6260·9-440, 40mm, +12
• 6260-9-344, 44mm, +8
• 6260-9-444, 44mm, +12

These recalled Stryker hip implant femoral heads are known to be utilized on both Accolade TMZF and Accolade 2 stems as well as Meridian and Citation stems.

Taper Lock Failures Can Cause Severe Results

The taper lock is the part of the implant that connects the femoral head to the femoral neck. Should this fail, patients could experience:

• Loss of mobility
• Pain
• Inflammation
• Adverse local tissue reaction
• Dislocation
• Joint instability
• Broken bones around the components leg length discrepancy
• Need for revision surgery

Patients with an affected implant should ensure they have follow up care from their implanting orthopaedic surgeon, if possible, especially if they experience unexpected pain, loss of mobility, inflammation, instability or other issues related to the implant.

Stryker Orthopaedic has written to orthopaedic surgeons who have implanted affected femoral heads to provide further information about this issue.

Stryker has not yet confirmed if this issue is isolated to a manufacturing defect that has been discovered or if it is due to a design issue present sometime prior to 2011.

Learn more about Stryker defective hip implants.

Have Questions? Receive a Free Evaluation from Experienced Defective Hip Implant Attorneys

The attorneys at Nash & Franciskato have extensive experience handling hip replacement litigation and are very familiar with Stryker and their products. If you have questions about your hip implant, contact us for a free, no-obligation review of your case.

Our knowledgeable staff is available at (877) 284-6600.

Contact Us Today

Past results afford no guarantee of future results and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Photo credits: Feature image is the Accolade TMZF femoral system as shown on the website of Stryker.