What’s the Problem?
More than 700,000 knee replacement surgeries are currently performed each year in the U.S., according to UpToDate. As the demand for new medical devices increases, a flurry of new products have entered the market, many which have not been adequately tested or properly designed. As a result, many knee replacement devices have been reported to fail prematurely, resulting in thousands of lawsuits filed against their manufacturers nationwide.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: Our lawyers are currently wishing to speak with anyone who has suffered complications following knee replacement surgery. If you or a loved one was injured, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.
What is Knee Replacement Revision Surgery?
Knee replacement patients may be forced to undergo additional surgery, or revision, if their implants have failed for any reason. Signs that a knee replacement component has failed or is about to fail may include one or more of the following:
- Persistent pain
- New chronic pain
- Instability
- Loosening of the knee implant (aseptic loosening)
- Swelling
- Decreased range of motion
Zimmer Knee Replacement Lawsuits
Since 1994, nearly 1.5 million people have undergone knee replacement surgery with Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee implants. Unfortunately, these devices have recently become the subject of much controversy as the result of:
- Several noted orthopedic surgeons who observed that 36% of the implants came loose just 2 years after the initial implant surgery;
- A New York Times article which questioned Zimmer’s practices and highlighted allegations of kickbacks Zimmer made to doctors for marketing their medical devices, and
- A letter from Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) which indicated that the Senate Finance Committee was investigating Zimmer’s product safety.
Zimmer currently faces more than 700 lawsuits alleging complications from its NexGen knee replacement system. Cases filed on the federal level have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL 2272) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
What is Bone Cement?
Bone cement is based on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a substance commonly used in joint replacement surgery. Originally developed for dental applications, PMAAs have been widely used in recent years during joint replacement procedures, such as knee replacement and hip replacement surgery. Unfortunately, patients who have undergone these surgeries with bone cement have reported suffering the following complications:
- Loosening of implant components and fragmentation
- Bone Cement Implantation Syndrome (BCIS)
- Hypoxia (low oxygen levels in the bloodstream)
- Low blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness
- Pulmonary embolism
- Cardiac arrest
- Death
Bone Cement Implantation Syndrome
Bone Cement Implantation Syndrome (BCIS) is a rare but serious complication of knee replacement surgery that occurs when bones spontaneously release fat and marrow into the bloodstream after bone cement is injected. When these substances migrate into the bloodstream, they can clog arteries in the lungs and/or heart.
BCIS Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of bone cement implantation syndrome include:
- Hypotension
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Increased central venous pressure
- Pulmonary edema
- Bronchoconstriction
- Anoxia/hypoxemia
- Cardiac dysrhythmia/arrhythmias
- Cardiogenic shock
- Cardiac arrest
- Sudden death
- Fat/marrow emboli
- Hypothermia
- Thrombocytopenia
Do I Have a Knee Replacement Revision Surgery Class Action Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in knee replacement revision surgery lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury and death cases in all 50 states.
Free Case Evaluation: Again, if you had problems following knee replacement surgery, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a lawsuit and we can help.