Lawyer for Defective Artificial Knees
The knee is one of the most important joints in the entire human body. It sustains an incredible amount of weight and stress every day, allowing us to run, jump, dance, and play. When disease or injury damages this vital joint, a patient will do almost anything to ease the pain and get back in motion again. Knee replacement surgery is an option that has offered patients hope for a pain-free and active life again.
Unfortunately for many patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery, not all manufacturers adhered to stringent medical standards and impeccable design when creating knee replacement joints. Many large-scale manufacturers have received complaints about a faulty design, defective parts, and dangerous complications and side effects.
If you have received a knee replacement and now suffer from complications, serious side effects, or traumatic injuries, you may have a problem with a defective device. When a manufacturer is negligent and puts profit ahead of safety, they may be held accountable for the resulting damage. The defective medical device attorneys at Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP are committed to helping victims like you seek the compensation they deserve from these negligent manufacturers. For a free case evaluation, contact us today at (205) 324-1212. Let’s talk about how we can help you get the money you deserve.
Facts About Knee Replacement Surgery and Artificial Knees
Knee replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, is a surgical technique that involves removing damaged, disabled, or disfigured sections of the knee joint and replacing them with artificial parts. These artificial parts are typically made from a combination of metal alloys, medical-grade plastics, and polymers.
Knee replacement surgery is a treatment option for those suffering from severe pain and inflammation in the knee joint. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common medical reasons for knee replacement surgery because the disease degenerates the knee joint to such a degree that normal movement becomes painful and nearly impossible. Other forms of arthritis can also degrade the knee to the point where surgery is required. Severe sports injuries, fractures, torn ligaments, the disintegration of cartilage, obesity, and other conditions may also result in the need for an artificial knee.
The knee is a complex joint that bears an incredible amount of weight and stress. The largest and strongest bone in the human body, the femur attaches to the top of the knees, connected by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The bottom of the knee connects to the tibia, or the larger bone in the shin, also connected by a series of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. During a knee replacement surgery, damaged parts of the knee are removed. This can include cartilage and bone. The ends of the femur and tibia are capped, and the knee joint is replaced with the artificial joint.
Artificial knee surgery isn’t without risk. As with any surgery, risks include bleeding, infection, blood clots, pain, stiffness, and nerve damage. There is also the risk that the body recognizes the metal and plastic as foreign, leading the body to mount an immune system response to attack the artificial knee. These risks can be mitigated by following physicians’ orders and recognizing the early warning signs of inflammation and infection.
Unfortunately, for those who have undergone artificial knee replacement surgery, there are underlying risks that patients may never have been made aware of. Why? Because several manufacturers marketed knee replacement devices as safe when, in fact, they were defective. These defective devices have resulted in serious injuries, unexpected follow-up surgeries, and joint weakness and failures.
Complications of Faulty Knee Replacements
The body is an incredible instrument, one that modern medicine has come a long way in understanding. Medicine has yet to create a body part that is equal to the real thing. Artificial knees will eventually wear down and need replacing in time. Typically, artificial knee joints have a lifespan of 15 years. The problem is many patients who received an artificial knee found that their new joint failed much more quickly than expected.
When making the difficult decision about whether to replace a natural knee with an artificial one, patients and their doctors weigh the known risks against the projected benefits. However, a number of patients were never properly able to weigh the risks because they were unaware that many knee replacement options had significant defects and flaws. These flaws are partially responsible for artificial knees failing much earlier than anticipated.
Other side effects and complications also started being reported. Some of the most common complications of these faulty knee joints include:
- Excessive wear
- Premature failure of the joint
- Restricted or limited motion
- Instability
- Pain
- Loosening of the knee due to cement failure
- Loosening of the knee due to screw failure or defective screws
These failures and defects in artificial knees have caused serious side effects for patients, as well as necessitating unexpected surgeries to correct problems associated with the joint. Some of the injuries and side effects associated with a knee replacement defect include:
- Pain
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Blood clots
- Nerve and tissue damage
- Scarring
- Knee dislocation
- Fractures of the bone where the bone meets the artificial implant
- Parts loosening or shedding from the device
- Bone death at the site of the implant
Manufacturers of Artificial Knees
There are several different manufacturers that create and distribute artificial knees. Many of them have been accused of manufacturing defective or faulty devices. Talking to your doctors or reviewing your medical records are the best ways of determining which type of device you have. If you suspect you have a defective knee, an attorney may also be able to help you track down which type of device you have and if you are eligible to receive compensation from the manufacturer.
Complaints about the safety and effectiveness of artificial knees have been made against the following manufacturers and may impact more than one of the manufacturers’ knee replacement designs:
- Arthrex
- B. Braun
- DePuy
- Exactech
- Stryker
- Zimmer Biomet
Knee Replacement Recalls
As complaints continued to pour into the FDA many artificial knee manufacturers were forced to issue recalls for their devices. A recall happens when a company is confronted with evidence that its product is defective or unsafe for use by consumers. The recalls impacting artificial knees were made to address issues with faulty design, improper fit, loosening of parts, early wear, and packaging errors.
Recalls began in 2003 and have continued through 2018. Manufacturers impacted by knee replacement recalls include:
- iBalance TKA Tibial Tray
- IBalance Femoral Cemented Size 3
- SIGMA HP PFJ Cemented Trochlear
- SIGMA HP MBT Non-Keel Punch Knee
- Specialist 2 Intramedullary Rod
- S-ROM Noiles Rotating Hinges
- Attune Knee Tibial Articulation Surface
- LCS Complete RPS Inserts
- Attune Intuition Impaction Handle
- Attune Intuition Impactors
- Gender Solutions Patello-Femoral System
- Persona Partial Knee
- Persona Partial Knee Spacers
- Persona Trabecular Metal Tibial Plate Knee
- Vanguard Total Knee System
- Zimmer Biomet Polyethylene Joint
- Zimmer NexGen Knee
- Stryker Orthopedics Patella Assembly
- MIS Modular Distal Capture Triathlon
- Modular Handle Triathlon
- Triathlon Femoral Components
- Scorpio Femoral Components
- ShapeMatch Cutting
While this list of recalls is extensive, other manufacturers and other parts may also have issued recalls on their knee replacement products. If you have suffered serious injuries or side effects from a knee replacement surgery, contact the attorneys with Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP for a case review. We may be able to help you determine if your device is faulty or defective and if you are entitled to compensation from the manufacturer.
Compensation for Artificial Knee Defects and Problems
Defective medical devices can cause a wide range of physical and financial complications. In addition to the physical pain and suffering of dealing with a serious and extensive injury, a victim is also forced to endure crippling medical expenses related to new and unanticipated surgeries and medical intervention. These costs can create significant financial hardships and become an overwhelming source of stress.
Victims should not have to take on the burden of paying for medical treatment when a negligent manufacturer is to blame for their pain and injury. If a reckless or negligent manufacturer is to blame for your pain and trauma, you may be able to seek compensation. This compensation could include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
Every case is unique. The severity of a victim’s injuries and the damage caused by the defective device can impact the amount of compensation the victim may be due. At Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP, we thoroughly review the circumstances of each client’s case and help determine how much compensation they may be due. For more information on what your claim could be worth and how we can help you pursue legal action against negligent manufacturers, contact our office at (205) 324-1212.
Contact An Experienced Lawyer Today
Your health and well-being are important. Would you have chosen to replace your knee with an artificial device if you knew it was going to be faulty or defective? Why should you be financially responsible for the traumatic aftermath of a defective medical device?
At Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP, we believe that victims deserve better. They deserve safe and effective medical treatments. When multi-million-dollar manufacturers jeopardize public safety while prioritizing their profits, they deserve to be held accountable. We are the firm that wants to hold them accountable for you.
If you’ve suffered complications because of a defective knee replacement, it’s time to call the experienced team at Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP for help. For a free case evaluation, contact us at (205) 324-1212, and let’s talk about how we can help you move forward and seek the compensation you deserve.
