Over 200,000 Exactech implant devices have been recalled affecting many patients across the country, including:
- Exactech knee implant products: Optetrak, Optetrak Logic, and Truliant
- Exactech hip replacement liners: Connexion GXL
- Exactech ankle replacements: Vantage
These products were first introduced to patients in 2004, and patients and their healthcare providers have trusted these implants and joint replacement systems to reliably meet their orthopedic health needs.
Unfortunately, these devices have failed to meet patient needs reliably and consistently. We previously covered Exactech’s artificial hip recall, and the scope of problems prompting that initial recall have only broadened.
Thousands more Exactech devices have been revealed to fail and are prone to premature failure, which can lead to painful orthopedic health complications like:
- Osteolysis
- Polyethylene wear
- Bone loss
- Weight-bearing difficulties
- Swelling in the joint
- Loosening or joint instability
- Implant popping, grinding, or clicking
- Fracture
- Chronic pain in the joint
- Joint replacement failure
- Further revision surgeries
Exactech Failure Damages
The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons estimates that the average cost of joint replacement parts can range from $3,000 to $10,000. The costs of other joint replacement procedures may vary depending on the sort of joint being replaced, the insurance coverage you have, and where you live. But in general, these procedures are no small investment, and can cost patients anywhere from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.
Exactech has engaged an outside company, Broadspire, to assist with its third-party reimbursement program that will cover “out of pocket” expenses.
If you want to have these particular expenses reimbursed out of court, you’ll need to supply the following information:
- The date of the surgical procedure involving the defective Exactech implant
- The date of any revision or removal surgeries involving the Exactech implant
- The name of the surgeon who performed the joint replacement procedure
- The serial number of the specific Exactech medical device under recall
Granted, “out of pocket” expenses are an important component to a case, but they still might not fully encompass the scope of damages available to a plaintiff injured due to a defective medical device. Our attorneys have years of experience dealing with cases concerning defective medical devices, product liability claims, and other instances of defective joint replacement implants.
Some common examples of damages we see in these practice areas can include:
- Injuries or illnesses caused by the defective devices, such as scarring or long-term activity restrictions
- The value of past, present, and future medical expenses
- Loss of earnings, lost wages, and lost future income
- Pain and suffering
If your situation concerns more than simply just “out of pocket” expenses, consider consulting an attorney before proceeding with your next move. Before speaking directly with Exactech or Broadspire, you should consult an experienced attorney you can trust.
Recall of Faulty Exactech Knee, Hip, and Ankle Implants
Prior to the 2021 and 2022 FDA Exactech Recall, lawsuits from as early as 2017 indicate an unusual preponderance of failure and adverse event reports associated with some of the Exactech hip and knee devices. Many of these premature failures may relate to the packaging of these devices, which previously used “out of specification” vacuum-sealed bags.
These bags didn’t conform to proper regulations and exposed many devices to inordinate levels of oxygen prior to implantation. The particular packaging defects exacerbated the oxidation process, causing some Exactech devices to wear quickly and fail prematurely.
Exactech has issued several recalls related to these faulty components in June 2021, August 2021, February 2022, and August 2022. However, just because the recalls were issued does not necessarily mean all patients with recalled components were notified. To find out if you have an Exactech device that falls under any one of these recalls, you can contact your orthopedic surgeon. They may be able to confirm the specific type of implant you have, that implant’s specific serial number, and whether or not it’s affected.
If you’re able to obtain the serial number, Exactech has a website where you can enter that serial number, to determine if your implant falls under their recall.
In any event, it’s important to contact an attorney to see if you may have one of the affected implants. A trusted attorney can review the viability of your case, help prove your damages, and fight for the settlement or resolution you deserve.
Exactech Litigation Update
Thousands of plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Exactech over their defective medical device products, so much so that:
- Exactech has now hired Broadspire, a third-party adjustment company, to oversee and supervise their reimbursement settlement process.
- A federal judicial panel has consolidated dozens of civil actions into a multi-district litigation (MDL) case, as of November 2022.
- There is a consolidated action in state court in Florida as well.
The MDL – the federal consolidation of many lawsuits in a single jurisdiction – is in the Eastern District of New York. The U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis presides.
If you had an Exactech Hip, Knee, or Ankle, feel free to contact KBA today to discuss your potential case. The attorneys at KBA have been working on orthopedic implant cases for years. There’s no fee to see if we might be able to help.