Exactech Hip Replacement Recall: Defective Packaging Results in Implant Failure
Exactech is a medical device company that primarily creates implants and technology for joint replacements.
The company was established in 1985 and is headquartered in Gainesville, Florida.
Certain Exactech knee replacement implants, ankle replacements and hip replacement liners, have been recalled because of packaging errors:
- Defective packaging errors have been found to cause oxidation of polyethylene insert components.
- Oxidation of these polyethylene inserts can lead to their degradation in the body, potentially exposing patients to numerous adverse health effects and calling for the need of corrective revision surgery.
Which Exactech Hip Replacement Systems are Recalled?
The Exactech recall covers implant products dating back to as early as 2004.
Recalled Exactech hip implant liners include:
- MCS
- Acumatch
- Novation
- Connexion GXL
To find out if your hip replacement liner is included in the recall, contact your doctor or orthopedic surgeon for detailed medical records.
You can also use the Exactech serial number look-up page if you have access to that information.
What is the Status of the Exactech Lawsuit?
The Exactech Recall Lawsuits are ongoing, and lawyers are still accepting clients from all 50 states.
Exactech Lawsuits have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL).
The Exactech MDL is centralized in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Patients injured by recalled Exactech implants are encouraged to speak to an experienced lawyer and learn about their legal rights.
Early failure of recalled Exactech implant systems can result in serious injury and require patients to undergo revision surgery.
Recalled Exactech Hip Replacement Liner Injuries
Injuries or symptoms related to defective hip replacement liners can be minor or extremely serious, and these injuries typically progress in severity over time.
While people with defective Exactech hip liners may feel most pain in their hip and midsection, they may also experience pain, swelling, and instability in other joints that retain pressure from altered posture.
Patients with defective hip liners could experience other complications apart from pain and fatigue.
Arthritis onset by wear-and tear on bones, osteoarthritis, osteolysis, synovitis, and more are possible when dealing with a defective or degrading hip replacement liner.
Injuries or symptoms associated with defective hip liners include:
- Pain and swelling on hips or midsection
- Extreme discomfort around hips and other body parts and joints (back, knees, ankles, shoulders)
- Feelings or sounds of grinding or clicking in hips
- Difficulty walking, standing up, or lying down
- Instability, soreness and posture changes that result in further pain
- Possibility of infection
What Is Corrective Revision Surgery?
Corrective revision surgery may be necessary in the case a recalled Exactech hip liner must be removed.
Revision surgery concerns the removal of a defective hip replacement liner, and replacing it with a structurally sound alternative.
Corrective surgery can be difficult for patients.
To have one surgery completed and end up hurting you is one thing, but to have to undergo corrective revision surgery years later to fix the issue can be extremely hard on one’s body and mind.
As you determine what course of action is right for you in fixing the potential issues with your hip replacement, ask an experienced medical professional what exactly corrective revision surgery entails.
What Medical Conditions Are Linked To Faulty Exactech Hip Replacement Liners?
Defective Exactech hip implant liners, which can degrade and give way, may also lead to various health conditions and adverse health effects.
The following two (2) medical conditions have been linked to faulty Exactech Hip Replacement Liners:
1. Synovitis
A correlation between synovitis and polyethylene joint replacements has been found by researchers.
Synovium is the thin membrane lining around joints.
Synovitis, simply put, is tissue inflammation that can cause severe pain areas around joints, and can lead to permanent damage if left untreated.
2. Osteolysis
Osteolysis is a progressive medical condition that causes bone tissue to be destroyed.
Osteolysis is a condition that patients with Exactech implants may be susceptible to if the polyethylene insert or component degrades.
A federal lawsuit filed against the company in mid-February alleges that a patient suffered from the condition because of their Exactech hip implant.
Filing An Exactech Hip Replacement Lawsuit
The Civil Litigation Process is very time-consuming and requires keen attention to detail as well as extensive knowledge of legal jargon.
The process of a civil lawsuit can be overwhelming for those who are already having to deal with coping with complications and trauma from their Exactech hip injury.
With the help of an experienced law firm, you should begin gathering evidence that will support your claim in court.
The amount of compensation that you may be awarded can differ depending on your ability to provide evidence and prove that Exactech is liable for injuries that you have suffered.
You will also need to be able to demonstrate that you attempted to treat your injuries to the best of your ability.
This part of the process is called mitigation.
Gathering Evidence for Exactech Lawsuits
Gathering evidence is a crucial step in building a strong case.
Evidence includes any documentation or records pertaining to your defective Exactech implant and your subsequent injuries.
Evidence may include:
- Photos and videos
- Witness statements
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Incident reports
- Lost wages as a result of the injury and medical care
Contact an attorney who is experienced in personal injury cases to gain personalized insight as to what evidence should be collected in order to build a strong case.
Assessing Damages in Exactech Lawsuits
Assessing Damages is something your lawyer will help you with.
Damages are the total losses incurred as the result of an accident or injury that can be recouped with financial compensation.
Damages in an Exactech Recall Lawsuit may include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional damage
- Lost quality of life
- Permanent disability
Mitigating Injuries
Mitigation is a critical element to any personal injury claim.
If you wait too long and the statute of limitations of your case expires, you may not be eligible to file a lawsuit or receive any compensation.
Proper steps to mitigation include:
- Receiving an official injury diagnoses
- Seeking medical treatment for injury
- Following your doctor’s orders
- Discussing revision surgery, if you doctor says it is safe and in your best interest
- Doing everything in your power to minimize the extent of your injuries
Mitigation is one of the most important steps in building a strong, honest claim.
TorHoerman Law: Your Exactech Recall Lawyers
Successful joint replacement surgery can improve a person’s quality of life, but when joint replacement surgeries are completed using defective and recalled implants, they can severely injure patients.
Exactech Recall Lawsuits aim to compensate victims of implant failure for what they’ve experienced physically, mentally, and financially.
If you or a loved one received a recalled Exactech knee, ankle or hip replacement and subsequently suffered injuries or required revision surgery, you may be eligible to file an Exactech Lawsuit.
Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.
You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify to file an Exactech Lawsuit.
Our law firm operates on a contingency fee basis.
This means that you do not owe any amount of payment until you have been justly compensated for your losses.
Reach out to us for more information and find out how our Exactech Lawyers can help you seek justice.
TorHoerman Law: Your Exactech Lawyers.
