A knee implant can help restore a person’s ability to walk and move around on their own. But, when a knee implant fails, it can cause further injury and create frustrating challenges for the patient. Learn more about how you can recover if you’ve been injured by an Exactech knee implant product.
Exactech has issued a recall for over 147,000 of its knee implant products and components since 2004. Such products are creating serious health and safety risks for knee implant patients all across the country. Affected Exactech knee products include:
Exactech Optetrak Knee Replacement
Exactech Optetrak Logic Knee Implant
Exactech Truliant Knee Replacement
As a Class II medical device recall, this means that those impacted by the defective knee implants can face serious and often reversible health problems. These problems may require additional knee surgery, also known as revision surgery. Revision surgery in itself could also present health risks.
It can be extremely disheartening to find out that the medical implant that was supposed to heal you instead caused you even more injury. At Osborne & Francis, we have proven experience in holding large medical device corporations like Exactech liable for their negligence. Contact us at (561) 293-2600 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case. We understand what you are going through, and are here to help you recover the losses caused by your injuries.
If you or a loved one have been affected by an Exactech knee replacement product, you may have questions about your legal rights. Read on to learn more about what you can do.
What Are the Potential Problems Caused by the Recalled Knee Implant?
The main problem associated with the recalled Exactech knee implants is the potential for early wear of the components. Many Exactech knee implant parts were packaged in defective vacuum bags. These bags allowed oxygen to get into the parts and diffuse into them during storage and before they were implanted. This created accelerated oxidation, which can prematurely weaken the implant component once inside the body.
Accelerated degradation of the entire implant structure
Increased production and accumulation of debris
Bone loss and wear
Severe pain in the joint area
Loss of movement and restricted range of motion
Clicking, grinding, or other odd noises in the knee
Various other conditions leading to revision surgery
Certain Exactech knee implant products have been shown to have a failure rate 3-7 times greater than other similar knee replacement implant brands.
What Are Average Exactech Knee Settlement Amounts?
Legal claims associated with the Exactech knee implant recall are still in progress, and settlement data is not fully finalized. Settlement amounts can depend on many factors, including the seriousness of the injuries, whether additional surgeries were performed, and even the experience of the attorney handling the lawsuit.
The financial assistance from a knee implant settlement is intended to provide the patient with a better quality of life. It can cover:
Present and future medical expenses
Lost wages and lost earning capacity caused by the knee injuries
Pain and suffering costs
Punitive damages intended to punish the manufacturer for placing profits before safety
Even if you or a loved one haven’t yet experienced symptoms, you may be entitled to an Exactech recall settlement. The recalled product may require additional monitoring and medical treatments, all of which can place additional financial stresses on you and your family.
What Are My Legal Options?
Exactech listed a hotline on their website where patients can contact them about defective knee implant products. While this may provide additional information regarding the implants, there is no guarantee that they will compensate you or assist you financially for the injuries their products have caused.
A more efficient, direct approach is to get in touch with a defective medical device lawyer who can assist you in filing a lawsuit. Legal action is the most focused way to ensure that you are fully compensated for the pain, suffering, and permanent life adjustments that Exactech’s violations may have caused.
What Is Knee Implant Revision Surgery?
Revision surgery is an additional surgical procedure that is aimed at correcting a defect found in a medical implant. It is also called “corrective surgery” or “corrective revision surgery.” In the case of defective Exactech knee implants, revision surgery typically involves removing the defective components that were weakened due to oxidation.
The problem with revision surgery is that it in itself can present additional risks for the patient. It can be an entire ordeal for the patient stretching over several months or even years.
What Risks Does Knee Implant Revision Surgery Present?
Knee implant revisions surgery can present two main risks:
The revision procedure creates additional injuries on top of the original one
The revision procedure is unsuccessful, leading to another revision surgery, and potentially creating an ongoing loop of additional surgeries
Both of these situations can happen to the same person with an Exactech knee implant. For example, the patient might experience both a new medical condition and an ongoing loop of revision surgeries.
A cycle of repeated surgeries like this can be excruciatingly painful, emotionally draining, and financially costly for the patient.
Some patients who have received Exactech knee implants have had 3 or 4 revision surgeries. At this point, the implant has caused way more problems than it is solving, and a lawsuit may be required. If you or a loved one are in this situation, contact Osborne & Francis at (561) 293-2600 for a no-cost consultation about your case.
What Allegations Are Involved in Exactech Implant Recall Lawsuits?
Legal action being brought against Exactech for the defective knee implant problems are highlighting several allegations against the manufacturer. Such lawsuits assert that Exactech:
Was aware of the defects with their knee implant components and products well before the recall announcement, yet failed to thoroughly investigate the cause of the failures;
Failed to warn both patients and surgeons about the oxidation and resulting wear and degradation of the implant parts;
Negligently concealed important information from regulators and consumers;
Continued to sell defective knee replacement products; and
Placed profits above the safety of the general public.
A lawsuit not only provides recompense for the individually affected patients—it also alerts the broader medical community to existing dangers that might surface elsewhere in other products or applications.
By pursuing legal action, you help to elevate the overall safety standards for medical products in general.
Should I Hire a Lawyer for Help With an Exactech Implant Recall Lawsuit?
When selecting a lawyer to handle your knee implant case, it’s crucial to seek one who has the proper experience and resources for your exact type of legal issue. At Osborne & Francis, our team has proven results in bringing legal claims against large corporations such as Exactech. We utilize the full spectrum of our resources and will pursue your claim until justice is fully served under the law.
For help with your case, contact our team at (561) 293-2600 for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. Our aim is to ensure that injured patients are justly compensated for the pain and losses that such products have caused, and that future injuries are prevented for consumers.
E. Holland
Dennis and the other Osborne & Francis staff were amazing! Our case was HUGE and required tender loving care. Everyone on our case did their part by putting all the puzzle pieces together. We were given step by step updates and put at ease when our nerves got the best of us. For every inquiry we made we received a timely response...You are appreciated!
C. Smith
“I am so thankful for EVERYONE, the entire staff at Osborne & Francis Law, for mentoring me through the mediation process with my hip replacement failures. I didn't realize how MUCH pressure they relieved me of by helping me deal with the reality of this traumatic time in my life, as it was OVER so quickly with a positive result. My family is grateful to have their mom HAPPY & FOCUSED on the future, rather than worrying over what happened in the past! FAST FORWARD, we are LIVING LIFE to the fullest once again!”
J. Davis
“I couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer/ firm — everything was done professionally exactly how I wanted. Due to COVID my personal attorney Mr. Garcia was still able to make things work in a timely manner and he never made me feel like he wasn’t working. Overall I’m happy with how my case turned out and I would recommend him and this law firm to anyone. 100% satisfied.”
Erica F.
"Best personal injury attorney around, I could not be happier! I was seriously injured in a car accident and Osborne and Francis helped me through the entire process. I was blown away by how knowledgeable the staff and attorneys are at this incredible law firm. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to friends and family!"
T. Andrews
“Attorneys Greg Francis and Ryan Fletcher at Osborne & Francis Law Firm represented me in my personal injury case.The defendant drew a line in the sand and was adamant on a settlement amount I was almost willing to accept. After the dust settled and the smoke cleared, we settled for 3 times that amount!!! When they say ‘Real Tough Lawyers,’ they mean it.”
Alfred
Quick and fair resolution to a unique case. On advice of my own attorney, I engaged Joseph Osborne of Osborne & Francis of Boca Raton, FL. Mr. Osborne had considerable experience in cases such as mine and the results showed that. Mr. Osborne and his staff were very helpful, kept me up to date, and listened to my input. The settlement was very fair as far as I am concerned.
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