Exactech Recall Lawsuit St. Louis

Exactech Recall Lawsuit in St. Louis. If you received an Exactech knee or ankle replacement insert or hip replacement liner, you may be eligible for compensation. Burger Law's product liability lawyers in St. Louis fight hard to get you the best results possible when a negligent medical device manufacturer causes you harm. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form.

Medical devices like joint replacements are supposed to make life easier for St. Louis residents and alleviate their pain. However, all too often, a defect is found that either does not help the patient or causes further harm. In 2018, a staggering 441.3 million medical devices were recalled. Exactech itself has recalled as many as 493,218 ankle and knee insert units and 40,102 hip liners.

Typically, if you are filing a lawsuit to seek compensation for an injury, you and your defective products lawyer must prove negligence on the part of the liable party. However, product liability claims operate under the doctrine of strict liability. That means that anybody involved in the design, manufacture, distribution or sale of a defective product must compensate you for your damages as a matter of law. However, that does not mean that Exactech is going to willingly compensate you for the harm their defective products have caused. You need an attorney in your corner who knows the law, knows how much your claim is worth and will not stop fighting until you receive a full financial recovery. Call Burger Law's dedicated and experienced product liability lawyers today at (314) 500-HURT. You do not owe us anything until we win your case.

Click on the links below for more information on the three Exactech joint replacement recalls:

• Exactech Knee Replacement Lawsuit
• Exactech Ankle Replacement Lawsuit
• Exactech Hip Replacement Lawsuit

You can see if your knee, ankle or hip replacement is affected by using Exactech's Recall Serial Number Checker. See Exactech's recall information here.

File an Exactech Recall Lawsuit in St. Louis

While Exactech has announced that the company will issue refunds to patients who received a defective product, this does nothing to address the damages you have suffered as a result of the defective insert or liner. While no amount of money can make up for the pain and suffering and other losses you have faced as a result of a defective knee replacement, a full and fair financial recovery can help restore you and allow you to move forward in your physical and emotional recovery. Hire Burger Law's product liability lawyers to fight for you and demand the full compensation you deserve. For the best chance of maximizing your recovery, speak to an Exactech knee replacement lawsuit lawyer today.

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About the Exactech Polyethylene Knee Replacement Recall in St. Louis

Exactech Pte Ltd, a company that manufactures implants and joint replacement technologies, issued a nationwide recall in February 2022 for their polyethylene inserts, which were found to fail early. The recall applies primarily to Exactech knee inserts used for partial and total knee replacement surgeries — products that have been on the US market since as early as 1994. In August 2021, the company announced a recall of all of its knee arthroplasty inserts.

The recalled product, Exactech Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) knee inserts, are labeled with an 8-year shelf life. However, reports from customers who have received knee replacements using Exactech's polyethylene knee inserts found the product to be defective and prone to rapid degradation, leading to failure, increased risk of additional knee damage and other health complications.

Why are Exactech's Knee Inserts Being Recalled? | Exactech Knee Replacement Lawyers

The defective product in Exactech's recalled knee inserts was packaged in vacuum-sealed bags but did not contain a necessary second barrier layer of Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH) as Exactech claimed to have used on the product drawing. The second barrier layer would have increased oxygen resistance and protected the knee inserts from premature failure.

Instead, because Exactech failed to include the second layer in their polyethylene knee insert products, there is a higher risk of oxygen leaking into the polyethylene inserts. The presence of oxygen in the polyethylene inserts introduces a reaction known as oxidization. Oxidized polyethylene can degrade more quickly than normal, ultimately leading to damage to the patient's body including bone loss or component fatigue cracking. These complications result in premature knee replacement failure, often requiring the patient to undergo additional surgery.

About the Exactech Polyethylene Ankle Replacement Recall in St. Louis

Exactech's polyethylene ankle replacement implants were recalled because of the same lack of a second barrier, leading to oxidation and premature failure. Exactech learned that the second layer was out of specification, which may allow oxygen to infuse into the plastic inserts before being implanted in your ankle. That can lead to oxidation, which can cause the ankle replacement to become damaged or wear out earlier than expected. This led to the Food and Drug Administration issuing a Class 2 Device Recall. If you were implanted with a faulty ankle replacement, it can not only lead to additional surgery or even another ankle replacement, but immense pain on the part of the patient, not to mention the extra medical bills and time spent off work.

Recalled Exactech Ankle and Knee Replacement Products

• OPTETRAK® All-polyethylene Tibial Components (TKR)
• OPTETRAK® All-polyethylene Tibial Components (PKR)
• OPTETRAK® Tibial Inserts (TKR)
• OPTETRAK® HI-FLEX® Polyethylene Tibial Inserts (TKR)
• ARTHROFOCUS® Polyethylene Tibial Inserts (TKR)
• OPTETRAK® Custom Polyethylene Tibial Inserts (TKR)
• OPTETRAK® LOGIC® Polyethylene Tibial Inserts (TKR)
• OPTETRAK® RBK® Polyethylene Tibial Inserts (TKR)
• TRULIANT® Tibial Inserts (TKR)
• OPTETRAK® Logic RBK Tibial Components (TKR)
• Vantage® Fixed-Bearing Polyethylene Liner Component (TAR)
• Vantage® Mobile-Bearing Polyethylene Liner Component (TAR)

About the Exactech Hip Replacement Recall in St. Louis

There are four components of a hip replacement:

1. Acetabular metal shell (this is the metal “socket” that goes into your native hip socket)
2. Acetabular liner (plastic / polyethylene) liner (this is the new “cushion” that replaces the damaged cartilage)
3. Femoral head (this is the new ball of your hip joint, usually made of ceramic or metal)
4. Femoral hip stem (this is the component that fits into your thigh bone and secures the new ball)

Two studies, one called Early Polyethylene Failure in a Modern Total Hip Prosthesis: A Note of Caution and another called Early failure of a modern moderately cross-linked polyethylene acetabular liner, both noted that the acetabular liner in Extach's hip replacements were lasting several years fewer than expected.

The recall was issued because Exactech's Connexion GXL acetabular liners carried the "risk of edge-loading and premature prosthesis wear," meaning they could wear down easier than expected acetabular metal shell. The polyethylene acetabular hip liners are prone to oxidation both before and after implantation. Oxidation causes the hip liners to wear down earlier than expected, which can cause revision surgery, pain and further injury. Pre-implementation, the vacuum bags the hip liners were shipped in do not contain a necessary secondary oxygen barrier layer known as ethylene vinyl alcohol.

The polyethylene acetabular hip liners are prone to oxidation after implantation in the presence of certain risk factors:

• The relative implant position of the acetabular and femoral components
• The femoral and acetabular components lean too far forward
• You have a higher activity level than most hip replacement patients
• The acetabular liner used was the thinnest available and was used with a larger femoral head (e.g. > 32mm
  head in a 48 mm cup or a 36mm head in a 52mm cup)

The following Exactech hip replacement liner parts have been recalled:

• Acumatch GXL Acetabular Liners
• MCS GXL Acetabular Liners
• Novation GXL Acetabular Liners
• Novation GXL Acetabular Liners
• Exactech All Polyethylene Cemented Acetabular Cup
• Acumatch Conventional UHMWPE
• MCS Conventional UHMWPE
• MCS Conventional UHMWPE

Am I Eligible for a Product Liability Lawsuit in St. Louis for my Exactech Joint Replacement?

Not every person implanted with an Exactech hip replacement is eligible for compensation. While Exactech will issue a refund for any hip replacements included in the recall, that does not compensate you for the pain and harm that their implant caused you. In order to be eligible for additional compensation from filing a lawsuit, you must have received the implant between 2004 and 2021, and you must have experienced harmful side-effects from the defective hip replacement. Our knowledgeable and dedicated product liability lawyers will fight for your recovery. Learn more about whether you are eligible to join an Exactech lawsuit by speaking to one of our lawyers now at (314) 500-HURT. We will discuss your case with you for free and help you determine whether you have a claim against Exactech.

To file a suit against Exactech for a recalled joint replacement, you must have been harmed by the product. After consulting a physician, call a Burger Law defective products attorney immediately if you have experienced any of the symptoms listed below.

Exactech Defective Polyethylene Knee and Ankle Insert Symptoms

• New or worsening swelling at or near the knee
• Pain while walking
• Stiffness
• Inability to bear weight
• Grinding or other noise
• Instability or loosening
• Any new symptoms of clicking in your knee

Problems Caused By Exactech's Recalled Polyethylene Ankle and Knee Inserts

• Bone loss
• Debris
• Accelerated wear
• Component fatigue
• Component fracture or cracking that will require revision surgery to correct

Exactech Defective Hip Replacement Symptoms

• Buttock pain
• Thigh pain
• Groin pain
• Knee pain
• Joint instability
• Joint stiffness
• Swelling around the area of the implant
• Degeneration of bone tissues
• Limited mobility

Visit your physician as soon as possible if you have an Exactech ankle, knee or hip replacement. They will help you understand your symptoms, identify any damage and determine what medical care you need to correct the problems caused by the recalled Exactech inserts.

If your doctor has diagnosed you with any of the problems or conditions listed above or has identified any complications related to your Exactech joint replacement insert, contact Burger Law's defective product lawyers immediately at (314) 500-HURT or online.

What Should I Do If I Was Inserted With an Exactect Knee, Ankle, or Hip Replacement in St. Louis?

The very first thing you need to do is make an appointment with the surgeon who performed your joint replacement. The doctor will go over any symptoms you are having, and take x-rays to verify the condition of the ankle, knee or hip replacement. If your implant has not yet resulted in any damages, your doctor will be able to advise you and come up with a gameplan for monitoring future symptoms.

If you are already experiencing symptoms, or have already had to have your Exactech insert replaced, speak to an attorney immediately. Contact your healthcare providers to get copies of your medical records and compile any other relevant information about your injuries and how the Exactech joint replacements have affected you. Exactech has hired an outside firm, Broadspire, to handle claim reimbursement for the defective joint replacements. However, it is important to remember that they are working for Exactech, and their priority is not getting you the full compensation you deserve. The St. Louis defective medical device lawyers of Burger Law know how to gather the evidence needed to ensure you are fairly compensated. Reach out to a personal injury lawyer before contacting Broadspire to make sure you know what your claim is really worth.

What Compensation Is Available in St. Louis in My Exactech Recall Lawsuit?

Exactech and Broadspire only want to pay for "out-of-pocket" expenses, which does not come close to truly compensating you for the harm Exactech's defective joint replacements have caused. Your St. Louis Exactech recall lawsuit attorneys at Burger Law will help you receive compensation for:

• Medical expenses, both those you have already accumulated and those you may have in the future, including further surgeries, medications and assistive devices such as a walker or wheelchair
• Lost wages from time spent off work
• Lost earning potential if you can no longer earn a living as you used to
• Pain and suffering because of your injuries, both physical and emotional
• Inability to enjoy life as you used to or participate in the activities you loved
• Loss of consortium, or the inability to share affection with your partner the way you used to

Exactech's offer to pay for out-of-pocket expenses is at best a band-aid, and at worst a dishonest attempt to avoid having to pay for the entirety of your damages. But fortunately, they do not get to decide what the extent of your damages are, and they do not get to decide how large your financial recovery is. Those things are determined by your injuries and their effect on your life. Burger Law's product liability attorneys will ensure that they repay you for everything that they are legally obligated to.

Burger Law Product Liability Firm: Your St. Louis Exactech Recall Lawsuit Attorneys

It is imperative to choose the right law firm in St. Louis for your Exactech recall lawsuit. Why choose Burger Law's product liability lawyers for your Exactech joint replacement lawsuit? Our attorneys have more than 70 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of the vulnerable and protecting consumers from the harms of defective products. We will demand and help you recover full financial compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses related to knee revision surgery and lost wages.

Our product liability lawyers never stop fighting until our clients are paid in full. We stay up-to-date on the Consumer Product Safety Commission and are always honing our trial skills. As effective litigators with unrivaled negotiation skills, we are often able to settle claims for our clients out of court. But when the insurance company or defective product manufacturer refuses to take responsibility and treat its victims fairly, Burger Law's product liability lawyers take your fight all the way to trial, exercising our unrivaled abilities as trial lawyers.

Burger Law stands up against bullies and fights for the vulnerable. If you have been harmed by a defective joint replacement after undergoing a surgery that should have made your life easier but instead has caused you more pain and difficulties, our fierce attorneys will fight ferociously for your recovery in your Exactech recall lawsuit. We have helped our clients recover more than $170 million in verdicts and settlements and will help you recover the compensation you deserve. Hear our past client testimonials now, learn more about Burger Law or call us now at (314) 500-HURT

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