Defective Knee Replacement Implants

When you underwent knee replacement surgery, you knew it would be major surgery, but you were prepared to do what it took to walk again without crippling pain. What you didn’t expect was a defective artificial knee joint complicating your recovery and causing ongoing problems.

If you or a family member has suffered health problems after a knee replacement operation, you should call the law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, to talk to a defective medical products lawyer. Manufacturers of medical devices have a legal obligation to make and sell safe products, including knee implant systems. I am attorney Philip DeBerard. I have more than three decades of experience helping Florida families overcome personal injuries caused by defective medical devices.  Product liability is a complicated area of the law. Neither the doctor nor the hospital is likely to admit they implanted a defective medical device. To get an honest assessment, turn to an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer with the resources to identify defective knee replacements. The law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, focuses exclusively on helping victims of personal injuries, including those who received defective medical products in South Florida and the Treasure Coast.

Call (877) 536-1911 to speak with a defective medical device attorney at the Accident Law Offices of Philip DeBerard, or fill out our online contact form.

Knee Joint Failure

Knee replacements are one of the major surgical advances of the 20^th century, and many improvements have been made since doctors first implanted an artificial knee joint in 1968. More than 580,000 partial and total knee replacement procedures are performed in the United States each year, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. With the baby boomer generation aging, demand for knee replacements will increase.

Today, people of almost any age receive knee implants for pain relief from arthritis, allowing them to remain active. Because of the many parts that must fit together in an artificial knee, any manufacturing flaw can cause the knee replacement to fail or detach. You are especially at risk of knee replacement joint failure if you are a younger, overweight male.

Complications that patients may experience include loosening of the components of the knee implant system, scar tissue that can limit motion and injury to the nerves around the knee.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves many medical devices without clinical testing or inspection of the device because the manufacturer claims the device is similar to one already on the market. A 2011 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine noted that of 113 medical device recalls from 2005 to 2009 that posed a serious health risk, 71 percent had been approved without clinical testing and FDA inspection.

An FDA database of medical device reports regarding Zimmer prosthetic knee products showed hundreds of injuries and malfunctions since 2007.

In 2010, the FDA posted a class 2 recall of the Zimmer NexGen Complete Knee Solution MIS Tibial components, locking screw and stem extensions because of more than 100 patient complaints of loosening of the implant, requiring corrective surgeries. The company issued changes to its recommended surgical technique.

The Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex replacement knee is a high-flex porous design used to cap the thigh bone where it connects with the tibia. It is made of a high-flex porous fiber metal and is not attached using cement.

In a 2010 presentation to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, researchers reported on the high failure rate of high-flex total knee design. The cementless high-flex femoral component has a high incidence of failure, with 36 percent coming loose and 9.3 percent requiring revision surgery because of painful loosening.

Contact a Florida Defective Medical Products Lawyer

If you suspect that you or a loved one has been harmed by a knee replacement, turn to a South Florida personal injury attorney with more than 36 years of experience evaluating cases of defective medical devices such as knee replacements. I am attorney Philip DeBerard. My legal practice focuses exclusively on representing victims of serious injuries caused by the negligence of others, including manufacturers of defective medical products. I am one of the first attorneys in Florida to be board certified as a civil trial lawyer. My legal skill has received the highest AV preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the most recognized national legal directory.

I take pride in leading a team of hard-working attorneys, paralegals and staff who provide caring, one-on-one service to clients across South Florida and the Treasure Coast. We will evaluate your knee replacement injury at no charge and explain your legal options. If we go to work for you, we will not charge any attorney fee unless we secure compensation for you. We represent victims of defective medical devices and medical malpractice in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and  Vero Beach.

Call (877) 536-1911 to speak with a respected Florida medical products liability attorney, or fill out our online contact form.