Stryker Recalling Hip Surgery Product

Medical technology company will voluntarily recall Trident PSL and Hemispherical Acetabular Cups made in its Cork, Ireland, plant a week after it received a warning from regulators.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Medical technology company Stryker Corp. said Tuesday it will voluntarily recall certain hip surgery products a week after it received a warning from regulators.
 
The company is recalling Trident PSL and Hemispherical Acetabular Cups that were made in its Cork, Ireland plant.
 
Stryker said there are no safety issues for patients who received these products, based on expert opinion.
 
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration ordered Stryker to fix a host of long-standing problems in its manufacturing of hip replacement parts that have triggered multiple patient complaints and forced some to have follow-up surgeries.
 
The FDA told Stryker in a letter that it was aware that the company has received patient complaints since January 2005 about a range of problems, including improper fitting of hip implants that caused bone fractures.
 
Products made at the company's Mahwah, N.J., plant are not part of the recall.
 
''While Stryker does not normally comment on discussions with the FDA, the company believes it is obligated to provide additional information to health care professionals, providers and patients in light of several media reports that draw erroneous conclusions surrounding the Warning Letter,'' the company said in a statement.
 
The company expects some short-term supply disruption as a result of the recall.
 
However, Stryker said it does not expect the voluntary recall to affect its guidance for its 2008 results.
 
It plans to provide details on its sales and earnings outlook when it reports fourth-quarter 2007 operating results on Wednesday.
 
Stryker's stock fell 86 cents to $65 in morning trading.
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