Exactech Lawsuit

Patients with Exactech knee and ankle implants who have been injured by the recalled devices may be wondering how much their case is worth.

And while there is no easy answer when it comes to calculating a settlement, victims of Exactech implant defects can certainly expect to receive compensation thanks to the Exactech lawsuit.

Settlement amounts for the Exactech lawsuit are still in speculation, but lawyers expect the compensation to correlate to the type of Exactech implant the patient received.

That means Exactech knee and ankle implants will have different average settlements.

It’s estimated that lawsuit settlements for defective Exactech knee replacement systems will be between $70,000 and $150,000.

Ankle replacement lawsuit settlement may be slightly higher, from $90,000 to $175,000.

All this is based on previous payouts in other cases involving these kinds of injuries.

Knee and hip replacements are currently the most common joint replacements, as nearly a million Americans have a knee or hip replacement each year.

Although knee replacement surgery and hip replacement surgery are most prevalent, procedures such as shoulder and ankle surgery are also on the rise.

The number of procedures and materials used to make artificial joints varies, depending on the joint being replaced.

For example, knee and ankle replacements typically use a metal alloy for the artificial joint, while hip replacements may use either a metal or ceramic ball.

In the best cases, patients who undergo joint replacement surgery typically experience pain relief and increased mobility afterwards, helping them to return to their daily activities.

This type of surgery is performed when a previous surgery did not achieve the desired results or when complications from the original surgery arise.

It can involve correcting bone alignment, implant placement, and soft tissue issues.

Patients who undergo corrective revision surgery often have significant pain and disability prior to the procedure, and the goal of surgery is to relieve these symptoms and improve function.

However, corrective revision surgery is often more complex than the original surgery, and patients may require a longer hospital stay and recovery period.

There is also a higher risk of complications, such as infection.

For these reasons, it is important to consult with an experienced orthopedic surgeon before undergoing any type of revision surgery.

Knee replacement surgery is a procedure that involves replacing the damaged or diseased joint surfaces of the knee with new artificial joint surfaces.

In some instances, medical devices called implants are used to replace damaged joint surfaces.

The most common type of knee replacement surgery is total knee replacement.

In this procedure, both the femoral (thigh bone) and tibial (shinbone) surfaces of the knee are replaced with artificial joints.

Partial knee replacement is another type of replacement surgery, but in this procedure, only one of the joint surfaces is replaced rather than both.

Although this surgery can be performed on patients of any age, it is most commonly performed on patients who are 60 years of age or older.

This type of surgery, also called ankle arthroplasty, is a procedure to remove damaged bone and cartilage from the ankle joint and replace it with an artificial joint.

An ankle implant is made of metal and plastic and is intended to restore the function of the ankle joint.

There are two (2) main types of ankle replacement surgery:

• A mobile bearing ankle implant, or
• A fixed bearing ankle implant

Mobile Bearing Ankle Replacement Implants

A mobile-bearing ankle replacement implant system has a plastic or metal tray that is inserted into the ankle bones.

This type of implant allows the ankle to move more freely.

Fixed-Bearing Ankle Replacement Implants

A fixed-bearing ankle replacement has a metal plate that is screwed into the ankle bones.

Ankle arthritis is far less common than knee or hip arthritis, so there are generally fewer ankle surgeries.

Still, the most common type of ankle arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is caused by the wear and tear of the cartilage that cushions the joints.

In many cases, the decision to have this surgery is usually made after other treatments, such as physical therapy, have failed to relieve pain.

Problems can arise with any type of surgery, and ankle replacement surgery is no different.

Generally, the most common issue after ankle replacement surgery is the instability of the ankle joint.

This can occur if the ligaments that support the ankle are damaged or if the artificial joint becomes loose.

Patients who have this problem may need to undergo revision surgery to correct it.

Other common problems after surgery include pain, infection, and blood clots.

However, problems resulting from premature wear are usually a result of manufacturing defects and not due to patient error.

This is why many with these types of issues often seek the help of an experienced attorney who can help them recover damages from manufacturers such as Exactech.

Hip replacement surgery is a procedure in which the hip joint is removed and replaced with an artificial implant.

Hip replacements are usually performed to alleviate pain and lessen the disability caused by arthritis or other conditions that affect the hip joint.

A hip implant consists of a metal ball that replaces the upper end of the thigh bone (femur) and a socket that replaces the cup-shaped hip bone (acetabulum).

The new joint can be made from metal, plastic or ceramic materials.

In most cases, post-hip-surgery patients are able to return to their previous level of activity and pain relief is significant.

However, complications can occur with any surgery, and hip replacement surgery is no exception.

In some cases, the new hip joint may dislocate, break or wear down over time.

Infection and nerve damage are other potential complications.

Because of these risks, patients should consult with their doctor to see if hip replacement surgery is right for them.

No, there isn’t a specific hip replacement lawsuit for manufacturing failures.

However, Exactech is currently being sued for allegedly selling defective hip implants.

As stated earlier, the Exactech lawsuit involves all hip, knee and ankle replacement defects and recalls, not just hip replacements.

Some of the recalled Exactech implants and components are as follows:

• MCS GXL
• Novation GXL
• MCS Conventional UHMWPE NOVATION Conventional UHMWPE
• OPTETRAK Tibial Inserts
• OPTETRAK Logic Tibial Inserts
• OPTETRAK All-polyethylene Tibial Components
• VANTAGE Fixed-Bearing Liner Component
• Exactech All Polyethylene Cemented Cup Acumatch Conventional UHMWPE
• Acumatch GXL
• TRULIANT Tibial Inserts

The OPTETRAK and OPTETRAK Logic components have been implanted in approximately 60,000 patients in the U.S. since 2004.

The TRULIANT inserts (approx 25,000 units) and VANTAGE Fixed-Bearing Liner Components (1,500 units) are also impacted by the recall.

If you are not sure whether you have received a recalled Exactech knee implant, you should contact your surgeon and check your component’s serial number against Exactech’s provided list.

The most common issue after knee surgery is usually stiffness around the knee joint.

Sometimes this is caused by not following the proper post-operative physical therapy protocol and makes it hard to fully extend or flex the knee.

Additionally, some people may experience problems such as knee implant failure, which involves the knee joint not moving as it should or pain in the surrounding tissues.

Although these problems are relatively rare, it is still important to be aware of them, as they have happened in the case of Exactech.

Most knee implants are designed to last for about 15 to 20 years.

However, this depends on a number of factors, such as the patient’s age and activity level.

In general, younger and more active patients will likely need to replace their implants sooner than older and sedentary patients.

Additionally, some people may develop complications that cause their knee replacement to fail earlier than expected.

After undergoing knee surgery, it is not uncommon to feel some discomfort.

This is because the surgery involves cutting through bone, muscle, and tissue.

In most cases, however, the discomfort is temporary and can be managed with medication.

However, in some cases, the knee replacement may fail.

This means that the joint does not function properly, is painful, and may require revision surgery.

When a knee replacement fails, it is often because the implant has come loose, there is an infection or the bone around the implant has broken, causing pain and disability.

If your Exactech knee implant is failing, you might feel the following symptoms:

• Severe pain in the knee, especially when bearing weight
• Stiffness and loss of range of motion in the knee
• Instability or giving way of the knee
• Swelling and inflammation around the knee
• Warmth or redness around the knee.

Knee replacements are typically considered to be successful procedures, with a high rate of patient satisfaction.

Although uncommon, complications can develop in approximately 1 out of 20 cases.

However, most are minor and treated effectively. Some examples of complications include:

Wound Infection

Infections can occur at the incision site or deep within the knee joint after knee surgery.

These are treated with antibiotics, although in some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the infected tissue.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

This is a blood clot that forms in the leg and can be dangerous if it breaks free and travels to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).

Deep vein thrombosis is treated with blood thinners.

Special support stockings, exercise, and anticoagulant medicines can also help eliminate post-operative blood clots.

Excess bone and scar tissue

Sometimes, the bone around the implant does not heal properly, or scar tissue forms that limit joint movement.

Further revision surgery may be needed in these cases to restore mobility and function.

Allergic reactions

Some patients experience allergic reactions to the bone cement used with knee replacement devices, which can cause difficulty breathing, chest pain, and low blood pressure.

This is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

Dislocation

Sometimes the knee replacement device can become dislocated or move out of place.

This is usually treated with physical therapy and exercises to help strengthen the muscles around the joint.

Over 40% of patients who have undergone total knee surgery still experience pain a year later.

In some cases, this number increases with time, making chronic knee replacement pain more and more common.

If you received Exactech knee implants, particularly from the Optetrak knee implant system range, you might be compensated.

This is especially true if you have experienced side effects or needed revision surgery because of an Exactech recall.

If this is the case, you will likely be eligible to join the Exactech recall lawsuits.