SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                          WASHINGTON, DC  20549



                                 FORM 8-K

                              CURRENT REPORT



                  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                     Securities Exchange Act of 1934



   Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 28, 1998




                           STRYKER CORPORATION
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)





        MICHIGAN                  0-9165                 38-1239739
    (State or other            (Commission             (IRS employer
    jurisdiction of            file number)         identification no.)
     incorporation)
                                                 
                                                 
P.O. Box 4085,                              49003-4085
Kalamazoo, Michigan                         (Zip Code)
(Address of principal
executive offices)



(616) 385-2600
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


     ITEM 9.   SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS.
     
               On December 28, 1998 and January 5, 1999, Stryker
     Corporation (the "Company") issued an aggregate of 229,801 shares
     of its Common Stock, $.10 par value, to certain non-United States
     persons in exchange for an equivalent number of shares of
     Matsumoto Medical Instruments, Inc., a corporation organized
     under the laws of Japan that was 76.8% owned by the Company prior
     to such transactions ("MMII"), in an offshore transaction
     pursuant to Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act of
     1933, as amended.  An additional 35,465 shares of MMII stock were
     purchased from certain of such persons for cash on December 28,
     1998.  As a result of these transactions, the Company's ownership
     percentage of MMII increased to 92.4%.  No underwriter or
     placement agent was used in connection with these transactions.
     
     
     
                              SIGNATURES
     
     
     
               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and
     Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report
     to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
     authorized.
     
     
     Date:  January 11, 1999
     
                                        STRYKER CORPORATION
     
     
     
                                        By:  /s/ David J. Simpson
                                             David J. Simpson
                                             Vice President, Chief
                                             Financial Officer and
                                             Secretary