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Exactech Hip, Knee & Ankle Implant Lawsuit

If you have a recalled Exactech hip, knee, or ankle implant, you may have a right to compensation. Individuals implanted with hip, knee, or ankle devices manufactured by Exactech may experience problems with their implants causing serious injuries and the need for revision surgeries. The polyethylene liners used in many of Exactech’s hip, knee and ankle devices are known to fail more quickly due to liner wear, and patients with Exactech devices  may experience stiffness, pain, and bone degeneration (i.e., osteolysis) requiring premature hip, knee or ankle revision surgery. Orthopedic surgeons recommend close surveillance of patients with these recalled devices.

If so, please contact our experienced product liability attorneys at cyuhl@yuhlcarr.com (http://www.yuhlcarr.com/cyuhl) to get latest information on whether you may be entitled to compensation.

EXACTECH HIP IMPLANT LAWSUIT

Since 2008, nearly 90,000 Exactech Connexion GXL liners have been implanted in patients undergoing hip replacement. In June 2021, Exactech, Inc., an orthopedic device manufacturer, issued a Class II Medical Device Recall of its Connexion GXL acetabular polyethylene liners used in hip implants. Although Exactech’s stated reason for the recall was that the “risk of edge-loading and premature prosthesis wear”[1] was possible in a certain subgroup of patients with specific implant configurations, studies have shown a general link between catastrophic early polyethylene wear and the use of the Exactech Connexion GXL liner.[2],[3] These studies found the average length between initial implant and diagnosed hip implant failure to be five years or less, an unusually short time frame for well-executed hip replacements.

How Does the Recalled Exactech Connexion GXL Liner Differ from Other Hip Implants?

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most frequently performed and successful orthopedic procedures. THA involves implantation of both a femoral and acetabular component. The acetabular liner, typically made from some form of plastic or ceramic, is inserted into a metal cup that is placed into the patient’s hip socket and sits between the acetabular cup and a compatible femoral head. The Exactech Connexion GXL acetabular liner is made of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene plastic. According to claims made by Exactech, its acetabular liners are manufactured using a unique radiation and compression process that results in less surface damage and wear. However, as evidenced by the growing number of premature device failures patients are experiencing, these claims are unfounded.

Exactech Knee and Ankle Implant Lawsuit

In February 2022, Exactech recalled several of its knee and ankle systems, again due to concerns that the polyethylene liners lead to accelerated excessive wear, bone loss, and device failure requiring corrective surgery. The recalled knee and ankle systems include the following:

  • Optetrak (knee)
  • Optetrak Logic (knee)
  • Truliant (knee)
  • Vantage (ankle)

Exactech Claims about Optetrak and Truliant Knees Implants

A total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a knee replacement surgery primarily indicated to relieve severe pain associated with arthritis and may also be used to correct knee trauma or minor knee deformities. A tibial insert, a polyethylene product, is generally implanted between the femoral implant and tibial tray. Despite evidence of poor results and a higher than expected rate of revision of the Optetrak system, which first became available in 1994, Exactech warranted that its polyethylene liner had “superior” and “excellent wear characteristics.” Similar to its hip implant, Exactech touted its “proprietary net compression molded polyethylene inserts are designed to minimize surface damage and wear, and ultimately improve the longevity of the knee prosthesis."[4]

Do I Have a Case?

If you have experienced one of the following symptoms after receiving a recalled Exactech hip, knee or ankle implant, you may have a right to compensation:

  • Osteolysis (bone tissue degeneration)
  • Revision surgery required
  • Pain around the implanted device
  • Limited mobility
  • Stiffness in the affected joint
  • Loosening of device components
  • Dislocation
  • Tibial loosening
  • Inflammation
  • Infection

Get A Free Case Evaluation

If you or a loved one have received one of the following Exactech hip, knee or ankle implants and subsequently experienced osteolysis, pain, stiffness, loosening of the device or had to undergo a revision surgery, we want to hear from you.

Contact YUHL | CARR by calling our office or sending an email to cyuhl@yuhlcarr.com (http://www.yuhlcarr.com/cyuhl)

  • Novation Connexion Dynamic Hip Systems with Connexion GXL Liner
  • Optetrak
  • Optetrak Logic
  • Truliant
  • Vantage

Sources:
[1] U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (August 26, 2020). Medical Device Recalls. Available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRES/res.cfm?start_search=1&event_id=88126&productdescriptiontxt=&productcode=&IVDProducts=&rootCauseText=&recallstatus=&centerclassificationtypetext=&recallnumber=&postdatefrom=&postdateto=&productshortreasontxt=&firmlegalnam=&PMA_510K_Num=&pnumber=&knumber=&PAGENUM=100.
[2] Thomas, W.C. et al. (May 2020). Early Polyethylene Failure in a Modern Total Hip Prosthesis: A Note of Caution. Available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0883540319311921.
[3] Kahlenberg, C.A. et al (June 2020). Early Failure of a Modern Cross-Linked Polyethylene Acetabular Liner. Available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352344120300157.
[4] Exactech, Knee, Optetrak Logic Comprehensive Knee System Brochure. Available at https://www.exac.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/712-25-20_RevE_Optetrak_Logic_Brochure.pdf (last visited February 14, 2022).