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The problems with Stryker Corporation’s Trident hip implant system are not limited to patients in the United States. In fact, patients from all over the world are complaining about squeaking joints and phantom pains – many of which require additional surgery.

Reports from down under

According to the Australian paper, The Age, patients in Australia are complaining about Stryker’s ceramic on ceramic hip replacement system. In a recent article, one patient who had the replacement system installed in 2001 complains about phantom pains that his doctors cannot diagnose and described the sounds coming from his hip as “squeaking like a hinge on a door.” Click here to listen to an actual sample of a squeaking hip replacement from a patient with the Trident system.

Stryker Australia recalled two components of the Trident Hemispherical and Trident PSL shells earlier in 2008. However, that didn’t do much to help the Australian patient as he – and his doctors – didn’t know that Stryker had already received hundreds of complaints about the system, but never told anyone. The Australian newspaper reported that he’ll have to undergo additional surgery to have the problems corrected.

But, who will pay for the additional surgery?

That’s what this Australian patient – and the hundreds of other patients around the world – wants to know. Many legal and industry experts say that Stryker is wholly responsible and point to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) communications with the company. The FDA claims that Stryker was aware of customer complaints about its Trident line of ceramic-on-ceramic hip implant products since 2005.

In fact, according to a 1/15/08 letter, the FDA claims that Stryker received the following complaints from patients:

• January of 2005 through April of 2007: Squeaking noises of hip implants with ceramic bearing components; some of those problems resulted in revision surgeries due to implant failures (fractures, pain, wear particles, and fragments).
• January of 2005 through June of 2007: Improper seating of hip implants in broached bones resulting in bone fractures.
• January of 2005 through May of 2007: Trident Hemispherical and Trident PSL Cups failed to function; hip implant components have poor fixation. In some instances, these problems have required revision surgeries.

If you are experiencing problems with Stryker’s Trident PSL and Hemispherical Acetabular Cups, contact an experienced attorney who has been following this issue to discuss your situation. For a free, no-obligation consultation, please click here.