2 min read
Introduction
ExacTech is a medical company that designs and manufacturers knee, ankle, and hip replacement implant systems. The FDA has classified this as a class to recall, which means that the exposure to the product can cause a temporary or medically reversible health consequence. The product packaging causes oxidation, and the replacement wears out faster than anticipated. Because it is a knee implant, the plastic part of the implant that acts as the cushion between the metal components of the knee is the part that wears out the quickest, which leads to metal on metal.
ExactTech Injury and Recall
ExacTech recently launched a recall of all knee replacement implant systems manufactured after 2004. The knee replacement implant systems are being recalled because there was a discovery of a defect in the packaging caused by a polyethylene insert component. The insert component degrades due to oxidation before usage.[1] Because of the degradation of the inserts, the ExactTech implants prematurely fail, which leads to the injury of this litigation, which is excruciating pain and a revision surgery to replace the implant. The exact name of the devices affected are: Optetrak®, Optetrak Logic®, Truliant®, and Vantage® products made by ExacTech. As well as Connexion GXL liners found in many ExacTech hip implant products.[2] The symptoms that many people are experiencing with these defective devices are swelling in the knee while walking, any form of loose feeling equipment inside of the leg, and inability to be able to stand up or place weight on the side of the implant.
The amount of patients that the recall covers is somewhere around 150,000 patients, but a large proportion of these patients will not be aware of the recall because ExacTech has left it up to the doctors’ offices to send out notification letters.[3] Additionally, in June 2022, a group of ExacTech knee implant recalls plaintiffs filed a motion with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) for a new MDL ExacTech class action lawsuit to be established for the consolidated handling of all future ExacTech recall lawsuits. According to the motion filed with the JPML, there are currently 27 ExacTech implant recall cases that are pending in 11 different federal districts. The motion suggests the Eastern District of New York as a possible venue for the ExacTech class action lawsuit, but ExacTech will most likely request the Northern District of Florida where its headquarters is located.[4]
As more and more people are informed about the recalls. the number of cases should rise in the coming months and provide enough cases for an MDL to form.
Michael Brady Lynch Firm
Here at the Michael Brady Lynch Firm, we are taking in new cases of the ExacTech knee replacement failures. If you or a loved one have been injured by one of the implants mentioned above, please give us a call at 888-585-5970.
Author: Brandon Salter
Date: July 22, 2022
[1] https://www.natlawreview.com/article/simple-guide-to-exactech-hip-knee-and-ankle-replacement-lawsuits-and-settlements
[2] https://www.exactechrecalls.com
[3] https://newyork.legalexaminer.com/health/new-york-man-scheduled-for-revision-surgery-sues-exactech/
[4] https://www.law.com/2022/06/22/critical-mass-with-law-coms-amanda-bronstad-with-scotus-denial-whats-bayers-game-plan-for-roundup-exactech-lawsuits-could-explode-lawyers-say/
