Exactech Hip, Knee & Ankle Implants Recall

Our firm is investigating and accepting Exactech hip, knee, and ankle implant failure cases. Lawsuits are being filed on behalf of individuals who had a recalled Exactech product surgically implanted in their hip, knee, or ankle that subsequently failed, and the individuals have undergone or will need to undergo, revision surgery.

Our medical device attorneys have experience litigating and resolving cases for individuals who were harmed by potentially defective hip, knee, and ankle replacement products. We represented men and women in Federal lawsuits against DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, involving failures of two models of their hip replacement devices. Subsequently, we represented a larger number of men and women for whom we filed Federal lawsuits against Stryker Corporation and its subsidiary, Howmedica Osteonics Corporation, involving failures of two models of their hip replacement products. All of the cases that we filed against these orthopaedic product manufacturers were resolved successfully.

Exactech is a medical device manufacturer headquartered in Gainesville, Florida. The company specializes in manufacturing implant products or systems that are used in joint replacement surgeries. In the summer of 2021, Exactech recalled its Connexion GXL polyethylene liner component that was used in its hip replacement systems due to premature liner wear. When the liner wears out prematurely, patients who were surgically implanted with the product can develop symptoms and complications, including pain in the location of the hip replacement, stiffness in the joint, decreased mobility, loosening in the hip joint and dislocations. These complications may lead to the patients having to undergo revision surgeries to repair or replace the component part or hip replacement device.

In August of 2021, Exactech also recalled all of its knee replacement and ankle replacement implant systems that were manufactured after 2004. These products were used in knee replacement surgeries, commonly referred to as a total knee arthroplasty (TKA), which is performed to relieve pain associated with arthritis in the knee and to correct knee injuries caused by trauma or deformities in the knee. As evidenced by the Urgent Medical Device Correction issued by Exactech in February of 2022, the recall of these knee and ankle replacement products impacted approximately 150,000 patients who were implanted with these products in the U.S. since 2004. The products or systems recalled included the Optetrak, first introduced in the U.S. in 1994; Optetrak Logic, introduced in the U.S. in 2009; Truliant, introduced in the U.S. in 2017; and Vantage, introduced in the U.S. in 2016.

The reason for the recall was the discovery of a defect in the vacuum-sealed packaging of Exactech’s knee replacement systems that caused the polyethylene insert component to oxidize before being used in surgery. This oxidation caused the insert to degrade or break down after packaging, which affected its ability to function correctly after being utilized in knee replacement surgery. The degraded insert could cause excessive friction in the knee joint, which, in turn, could cause premature failures of these knee replacement systems. Similarly to what happens in the cases of failed hip implants, the failure of a knee replacement product can lead to the patient having to undergo revision surgery.

Signs or symptoms that an Exactech knee or ankle implant may have failed due to the degraded insert include pain and swelling in the area of the implant, difficulty bearing weight on the joint, and/or instability in the implanted knee or ankle. In a letter that Exactech sent out to all patients and doctors following the recall, patients who were surgically implanted with an Exactech knee or ankle replacement system were instructed to consult their orthopaedic surgeons. The surgeons were advised to take x-rays whenever a failed Exactech implant is suspected in their patients. Patients who had an Exactech knee or ankle replacement system surgically implanted after 2004 may be entitled to file a defective product lawsuit if the implant subsequently failed and the patient had to undergo revision surgery. Individuals who bring such lawsuits may be entitled to recover damages for the medical expenses they incurred in getting treatment and having to undergo revision surgery, lost income or wages incurred as a result of the implant failure, and pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one have been damaged by a recalled Exactech hip, knee, or ankle replacement product, the defective product attorneys at Suthers & Harper have experience litigating and obtaining successful recoveries for men and women who have been harmed by such devices. You may provide us information regarding your potential claim by using the Contact form on this website, or calling us on our toll-free number, 1.800.320.2384, for a free consultation.