Exactech Hip & Knee Recall Attorneys

A Guide to the Exactech Hip & Knee Replacement Lawsuits

On June 24, 2021, global medical device manufacturer Exactech notified orthopedic surgeons that hip replacement devices using their polyethylene Connexion GXL liner were at a higher risk of premature wear. Five days later, Exactech issued a recall for almost 90,000 Connexion GXL liners that have been used in hip replacement surgeries since 2008.

On August 30, 2021, Exactech notified its distributors and sales representatives of a recall involving knee products with the same polyethylene liner as its hip products. Exactech expanded the recall on February 7, 2022, to include nearly 150,000 knee devices that have been implanted since 2004.

When medical device manufacturers fail to create safe products, patients and their loved ones suffer. Patients implanted with defective Exactech devices may experience pain, infection, injury, bone tissue loss, and may also require revision surgery. If you have been impacted by a defective Exactech hip or knee device, you may have a right to compensation.

On this page, find information about:

  • why Exactech recalled these devices
  • which devices are included in the recall
  • the symptoms of a failed joint implant
  • how to determine whether you have a case against Exactech and what you can do next

 

Portrait of defective medical device litigation Kirk Pope

For the past ten years, attorney Kirk Pope has represented thousands of clients in defective hip replacement cases.

 

Why Were the Devices Recalled?

A defective polyethylene liner prompted recalls in both cases. Polyethylene is a common plastic used in joint replacement liners, but issues in Exactech’s design and packaging processes caused the devices to fail.

Exactech Hip Recall

Published as early as March 2020, studies conducted on Exactech’s Connexion GXL Liner, which has been used in three different hip systems, found that the liner exhibited unusual” early excessive polyethylene wear.” The faster rate of wear on Exactech liners causes patients to suffer implant failure during the first five years, which represents a stark deviation from the expected lifespan of modern hip implants.

To help degradation and increase the lifespan of the liner, manufacturers employ a process called “cross-linking”; highly cross-linked polyethylene is shown to be especially resistant to wear. One of the reasons that Exactech’s liner may have shown accelerated wear is because those liners were only “moderately cross-linked.”

Read More about the Hip Recall

Exactech Knee Recall

In its “Urgent Medical Device Correction” letter to healthcare professionals in February 2022, Exactech acknowledged that “most of [their] inserts manufactured since 2004 were packaged in out-of-specification vacuum bags.” These vacuum bags are important because, according to Exactech’s “Design Rationale,” the inserts are placed in vacuum bags to prevent oxidation, or exposure to oxygen. Oxidation resistance is an important safety consideration because the presence of excess oxygen can cause polyethylene to degrade, which can, in turn, cause patients to suffer severe pain, bone loss, and possibly infection.

Read More about the Knee Recall

Which Exactech Devices Are Included in the Recall?

The following products are included in the 2021 and 2022 hip and knee device recalls:

Hip Systems

Acumatch GXL
Novation GXL
MCS Hip System

Knee Systems

Optetrak
Optetrak Logic
Truliant

What Are the Symptoms of a Failed Hip or Knee Implant?

If you have experienced one of the following symptoms after receiving a recalled Exactech hip or knee 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
  • Popping/clicking of the joint

How Do I Know If I Have a Case Against Exactech?

If you have experienced any of the above symptoms relating to a hip or knee implant, the next step is to determine whether you have been implanted with an Exactech device. You can find out by reviewing your medical records or speaking with your orthopedic surgeon. Contacting your orthopedic surgeon is especially important, since a defective Exactech implant may require you to undergo revision surgery.

Wherever you are in the process, speaking with an experienced attorney can help you evaluate your situation and understand what you need to do next.

Trust Pope McGlamry with your Exactech Claim

Pope McGlamry is currently litigating against Exactech and has already set a trial date in May 2023 for one of our Exactech hip cases in federal court. Over the last decade, Pope McGlamry’s attorneys have settled more than 3,500 defective hip cases against manufacturers such as Biomet, DePuy, MicroPort, Stryker, and Wright. Our attorneys have led the way in defective orthopedic implant litigation and have been appointed by federal and state court judges to serve in leadership positions against medical device manufacturers like Exactech.

We know the intricacies of these types of devices and the mechanisms of failure, and more importantly, we understand the immense impact these faulty devices can have on the individuals who receive them. Pope McGlamry also has the financial resources to litigate these cases against well-funded and well-defended orthopedic device manufacturers.

Get a Free Case Evaluation

When you hire Pope McGlamry for your Exactech case, we will not refer you to another firm: we will personally represent you. Additionally, there is no cost or fee unless we recover money for you from a verdict or settlement. Contact us today to receive a free case evaluation.

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