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Defective Knee Replacement Lawsuits

On Behalf of | Jan 12, 2020 | Firm News, Product Liability

When a medical device fails, it can literally mean the difference between life and death. Victims of defective medical devices need to speak with a San Francisco Bay Area product liability attorney about their case. Walnut Creek, CA lawyers Richard T. Bowles and Michael P. Verna will help you seek damages and hold the makers of that medical device accountable.

Failed joint replacements can be especially devastating for patients. We’ve seen numerous instances of hip implants, elbow replacements, and other devices failing and causing further harm. With that in mind, let’s discuss defective knee joint replacements and what legal options are available.

The Need for Knee Replacement Surgery

As people get older, wear and tear take their toll on different parts of the body. This is particularly true of the knees. With age, the knee joint can wear down. When non-surgical management of arthritis and other conditions proves ineffective, the most ideal treatment is to undergo knee replacement surgery.

Artificial knee joints are supposed to restore our ability to walk, run, jump, and get around with ease. Unfortunately, they don’t always function as intended.

Types of Knee Joint Replacements

There are different kinds of knee joint replacements out there from various makers of medical devices. Some of the most well-known knee replacement manufacturers/knee replacement products include:

  • Arthrex (iBalance Knee)
  • B. Braun (Advanced Surface ceramic coated knees)
  • DePuy Synthes (Attune Knee System)
  • Exactech (Optetrack Knee)
  • Stryker (NexGen, Persona)
  • Zimmer Biomet (Duracon Unicompartmental Knee System)

There have been numerous complaints filed about all of these manufacturers and their respective knee replacements. If you or a loved one has a knee replacement made by these companies, be mindful of any issues and speak with your doctor and an attorney as soon as possible.

Defects from Knee Replacements

The defects of the above knee replacements can vary. In general, patients with those artificial knee replacements have complained of the following:

  • Loosening of the joint
  • Knee and leg instability
  • Injury to the bones of the leg
  • Injury to the soft tissues around the knee
  • Reduced range of motion of the knee
  • Pain of the knee and leg

Patients Dealing with Defective Knee Replacements

People who have a defective knee replacement will need to speak with a doctor about the ideal treatment for their problem. Usually, it’s essential for the defective artificial joint to be removed. Doctors can then treat any injury to the affected tissues and place another artificial knee as needed.

Recovery from this additional surgery takes time. If the bone structure of the knee was damaged by the previous joint replacement, patients may face further mobility issues even when they are fully healed. What’s more, these corrective surgeries can be extremely expensive. Had the initial knee replacement worked as intended, patients would not have to deal with these further health issues and costs.

Holding Medical Companies Accountable

Given the nature of such incidents, it’s important that medical companies be held accountable when their products cause patients harm. Our attorneys will help you seek a settlement from the manufacturer of the defective artificial knee joint. The amount sought will help you cover the cost of additional medical treatment at the various hardships involved.

If a settlement cannot be reached, we will not hesitate to bring your case all the way to trial. Our attorneys are here to help.

Contact Our Team of Attorneys

For more information about your legal options after suffering from a medical complications from a defective knee replacement, be sure to contact our skilled product liability attorneys. You can reach the legal team at Bowles & Verna LLP by phone at (925) 935-3300.