July 23, 2014 — Zimmer has issued a recall for potentially defective components of the Zimmer NexGen Complete Knee Solution.
The Class II recall affects about 41,180 stemmed tibial baseplate components. The component is designed with a threaded hole into which surgeons are supposed to screw a drop-down stem extension or stem plug.
The problem is that the threads may be defective, which could make it impossible for a surgeon to lock the baseplate onto the stem extension. This increases the risk of loosening or dislocation of the knee implant.
Zimmer initiated the recall in May. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall the following month, as did health authorities in Australia. Over 1,000 lawsuits involving the NexGen are pending against Zimmer in federal court. Click here to read more.
Complications of a defective knee implant include:
- Instability: A loose knee implant is unstable and may dislocate or cause bone fractures.
- Tissue damage: Improperly-fitted knee implants can damage tissues around the knee, which increases the risk of infection and chronic pain.
- Surgery: Patients who experience pain or loosening will probably need another surgery to remove and replace the defective knee.
- Bone loss: If the defective component was cemented in place, doctors may need to remove bone.
Do I have a Zimmer NexGen Knee Implant Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Zimmer NexGen induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by a defective knee replacement, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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