Winnetka Man Sues Over Defective Artificial Hip

Winnetka resident Mark Stephan has filed a lawsuit in the Cook County Circuit Court against Howmedica Osteonics Corporation, which also does business as Stryker Orthopedics. Stephan's lawsuit alleges that an artificial hip he received from the company in April 2011 was defective and needs to be replaced. 

The metal-on-metal hip was recalled in July 2012. Stephan's lawsuit claims that Stryker's claims were false and misleading and the device was inadequately tested. Side-effects from the hip include a buildup of metal toxicity int he bloodstream which can affect muscles, tissues and neurological abilities. 

Stephan, 55, is a New Trier High School graduate and married father of two who works in finance. Stephan was injured in a bicycling accident in August of 2007, when he was thrown over the handlebars onto the ground. Stephan's neck snapped in the incident and left him as a quadriplegic. Doctors told him he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, but Stephan was able to walk under his own power five months later. Stephan received the replacement hip procedure in 2011, which allowed him to continue bike riding. 

"This isn't about me," Stephan said in a statement. "This is about shining a spotlight on a problem that impacts thousands of people in the US. To people with metal-on-metal hip implants, I'd say go see a doctor. Get your blood tested for heavy metal toxicity. Inquire about any unusual symptoms you're experiencing. Don't put it off. If it happened to me, it could happen to anyone." 

Stephan is represented by Chris Hurley at Hurley, McKenna and Mertz, Attorneys at Law.