Zimmer NexGen Knee Implant Lawsuits

Knee replacement surgery is a common treatment for arthritis or knee pain. Patients who get knee implants may be able to return to physical activity without severe knee pain. However, defective knee replacements can cause additional pain and knee joint damage. The knee implant manufacturer can be liable for injuries caused by defective products.

If you had a Zimmer knee implant and are suffering from pain or the effects of a device failure, a personal injury lawyer can help you recover compensation.

What Is Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee replacement surgery is a common option for patients with severe arthritis in the knees or severe knee injuries. Total knee arthroplasty uses metal and plastic artificial knee parts to replace parts of the knee joint. During surgery, an orthopedic surgeon will remove damaged parts of the knee joint and fit your knee with a prosthesis.

There are several biomedical companies producing and marketing total knee replacement medical devices, including Stryker, DePuy, and Exactech. These medical devices are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

One of the largest knee joint implant manufacturers is Zimmer Biomet. Zimmer Biomet has several knee implant surgical devices, including the Zimmer NexGen knee replacement system and the Zimmer Persona knee replacement system.

The NexGen CR-Flex Knee is a partial knee replacement product produced by Zimmer. Each knee replacement includes three components:

• A metal femoral component that replaces the end of the femur (thigh bone)
• A metal tibial component base plate that replaces the top of the tibia (shin bone)
• A plastic articular surface component attached to the tibial base plate (acting the same way as traditional cartilage)

What Are the Risks of Knee Replacement Surgery?

Any type of surgery has some level of risk, including knee implant surgery. Risks of knee replacement surgery include infection, anesthesia errors, and bleeding. However, there is also a risk of defective knee replacement parts, which can cause further pain, stiffness, and surgical infections. With a defective knee implant, you may have to have additional surgery to remove the defective part and replace it with a new implant.

How Do You Know if a Knee Implant Is Defective?

Manufacturers are held liable for selling defective products that cause injuries or other harm. You can file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer for damages. Defective knee implant lawsuits involve allegations:

• Design defects
• Manufacturing defects
• Failure to warn of side effects or adverse events

A design defect means that the knee implant was not designed correctly. Manufacturing defects involve problems during manufacturing, including using inferior materials and a lack of sanitary conditions. A failure-to-warn defect involves not warning patients about the risks of using the product.

FDA Knee Replacement Recalls

The FDA tracks adverse events associated with prescription drugs and medical devices. These are based on reports from patients and health care providers about problems with medical devices, including knee replacements. Your doctor can report adverse safety events through the FDA’s MedWatch website.

If the FDA believes there is a safety recall, it can propose a correction or removal. In most situations, the medical device manufacturer will initiate a recall, with information about what doctors and patients can do about the device. This can include monitoring, repair, or replacement.

FDA recalls are categorized based on safety risk, from the most serious, Class I, to the least serious, Class III. There have been multiple knee implant device recalls, including Zimmer knee replacement devices. For example, FDA recalls have included:

• Class 2 device recall for Zimmer NexGen Legacy initiated Oct. 12, 2006 (tibial articular surface may not lock into some of the tibial plates)
• Class 2 device recall initiated Jan. 28, 2015 (loosening and radiolucent lines)
• Class 2 device recall initiated Sept. 29, 2017 (incorrect labeling)
• Class 2 device recall for Zimmer Unicompartmental Knee System initiated Nov. 29, 2017 (risk of residue from packaging)
• Class 2 device recall initiated April 17, 2020 (potential presence of elevated endotoxin levels)
• Class 2 device recall initiated Dec. 29, 2022 (incorrect labeling)

How Can a Medical Device Lawyer Help?

If you have pain or other side effects after a knee replacement, talk to a defective medical device attorney about your legal options. A defective medical device lawyer can review your case and identify your legal options. Your attorney can file a lawsuit against the manufacturer seeking compensation for your losses. Damages in a knee replacement lawsuit can include medical expenses, revision surgery, and pain and suffering.