What’s Wrong with the Exactech Joint Implants?

If you or a loved one has undergone hip, ankle, or knee replacement surgery since 2004, you may have received a faulty implant.

Exactech is a medical device and implant company that produces a range of products for joint replacement surgery. In August of 2021, the company announced that many of its joint inserts produced since 2004 utilized faulty packaging that allowed oxygen to attack the inserts, worsening their durability.

Read on to learn more about what’s wrong with the Exactech joint implants and how you can proceed if you received one of these faulty devices.

Exactech Joint Implant Recall

Exactech joint implants, like most joint replacement devices, must use special packaging after production and during transport to medical facilities. This packaging prevents oxygen and other elements from entering the package and damaging the implant.

However, in August of 2021, Exactech announced that many of its polyethylene inserts had received faulty packaging during production. While these inserts were vacuum sealed, they lacked an additional ethylene vinyl alcohol layer that serves as an added oxygen barrier. Without this layer, oxygen can seep into the packaging and attack the inserts.

In a letter to the FDA, Exactech stated that most of its inserts produced since 2004 lacked this protective packaging layer. As a result, these inserts may have developed cracks and microfractures before implant, causing premature wear that could cause patients to require revision or replacement surgeries earlier than expected.

On August 30, 2021, Exactech sent a warning letter to physicians and the FDA stating that most of its inserts since 2004 used this faulty packaging. The company then expanded its recall in February of 2022.

The Exactech recall encompasses over 140,000 joint replacement devices produced since 2004.

How To Determine If You Received a Faulty Implant

If you received any knee, hip, or ankle replacements since 2004, you may want to contact your surgeon for the exact details about the implant product they used. Exactech recalled the following devices:

• Vintage Fixed-Bearing Liner Components
• Optetrak All-Polyethylene Tibial Components
• Truliant Tibial Inserts
• Optetrak Tibial Inserts
• Optetrak Logic Tibial Inserts

Your surgeon may reach out to you directly if they used any of the above components in your replacement surgery. However, you may not be able to rely on your surgeon contacting you directly.

Symptoms of Exactech Implant Failure

If you received a faulty Exactech implant device, you may need to undergo revision surgery earlier than expected. Your implant could begin to wear prematurely, creating the following symptoms:

• New or worsening swelling
• Clicking near the joint
• Pain
• Instability
• Grinding or other noises near the joint
• Limited range of motion

Your surgeon may recommend treatment to delay revision surgery as long as possible. However, many people who experience implant failures will ultimately need correction surgery.

What To Do If You Received a Faulty Implant

If you believe you received one of the faulty Exactech joint replacement devices from the list above, your first step should be to contact your physician and determine a treatment plan. Your surgeon can recommend the best course of action to minimize pain and other symptoms.

You may also be able to receive financial compensation from Exactech to cover your revision surgery. The company has stated that it will cover some out-of-pocket costs related to rectifying the issues from its faulty ankle, knee, and hip implants.

However, you will likely receive more compensation through a mass tort lawsuit. Law firms across the country have initiated mass torts against Exactech. Joining one of these cases could allow you to receive damages to recover:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• Lost wages or compensation for a loss of ability to work

The exact amount of money you could receive will depend on your specific situation.

At Mass Tort Resource, we help potential recall victims like you determine the best routes to seek compensation for their damages. We’d be happy to provide the guided assistance you need to understand your options following the Exactech joint implant recall. We also assist attorneys in handling mass tort cases or looking to refer them.

Call us today at 844-636-7459 or fill out our form to request your free consultation.