Product liability lawyers are looking at potential claims for patients who got implanted knee, ankle, and/or hip medical devices made by the company Exactech. Exactech recall their implanted devices due to a manufacturing flaw that could cause the components in patients to fail prematurely. Additional surgical operations would be necessary to repair the damaged component or device as well as any potential damage it may have caused.
What Caused the Recall of the Exactech Implant Defect?
Exactech acknowledged that the polyethylene insert of the medical equipment may have undergone “oxidation” due to a defective oxygen seal in its packing.
The component elements of the impacted devices are thought to fail prematurely and dramatically over time as a result of oxidation. The implanted medical device may fail due to fractures or cracks caused by the polyethylene insert’s deterioration. Additionally, it appears that tiny wear debris from the polyethylene lining may be hazardous to bodily tissues.
Wear debris is released into the joint space at the knee, ankle, or hip as the liner ages. There are muscles, bones, and soft tissue there. Soft tissue, muscle, and bone can become necrotic and die if neglected. Osteonecrosis refers to the death of bones. Joint dislocation and instability can both result from muscle and tissue loss. Implant subsidence, loosening, and improper positioning are additional effects of osteonecrosis. Each of these ailments can significantly increase the complexity of any revision surgery and lower the likelihood of a successful outcome for the patient.
Symptoms of Exactech Joint Failure:
- Instability and Balance Problems
- Grinding, popping, or clicking in the joint area, together with pain
- Lack of Mobility Loss of Ability to Support Weight
- Osteolysis and/or osteonecrosis (tissue and bone around the joint being destroyed)
You might be eligible for financial compensation if you obtained an Optetrak, Optetrak Logic, or Truliant knee replacement device between 2004 and 2022. Exactech has discovered that in certain individuals, the plastic tibial implant wears out sooner than anticipated, creating major difficulties and necessitating extra surgery. Radiographic imaging is necessary to determine whether the plastic has been worn.
What is the Exactech Settlement Process?
There is no assurance that Exactech will settle your claim, even if you are unquestionably entitled to financial compensation for your faulty ankle, hip, or knee replacement device.
The best way to increase your chances of winning a settlement is to engage with a group of knowledgeable attorneys familiar with the claims against Exactech.