Some Exactech knee (also known as implants), hip, and ankle prosthetics have been linked to severe health problems, including bone loss, lysis (cell breakdown), pain, and fracture or cracking of components. In some cases, these complications may require additional corrective surgery to replace the defective implants. Many plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Exactech seeking compensation for injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more.
People filed Exactech recall lawsuits due to poor packaging that let too much air in and caused plastic knee and ankle prostheses to degrade too quickly. Because of the packaging issue, Exactech recalled thousands of polyethene hip and knee inserts in August 2021.
This packaging defect caused the devices to deteriorate more quickly than anticipated. Exactech extended its recall in August 2022 to include a hip system known as Connexion GXL. In early 2024, Exactech voluntarily recalled its Equinoxe Shoulder System due to the exact packaging flaws.
Health Problems Potentially Caused by Exactech’s Defective Knee, Hip, and Ankle Implants
The defective knee and ankle implants recalled by Exactech may cause a variety of health problems in addition to revision surgeries. Hip implants may also be affected, but the investigation is ongoing. Specific health problems potentially related to Exactech’s defective knee and ankle implants may include:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Limited mobility
- Bone loss
- Lysis (breakdown of bone cells)
In addition, the knee or ankle implant may become loose over time or even crack or fragment. In some cases, revision surgery may be necessary to remove the defective Exactech implant and replace it with an alternative insert.
Do You Qualify for an Exactech Knee, Hip, or Ankle Implant Lawsuit?
If you have been implanted with a recalled Exactech knee or ankle implant or a potentially qualifying hip implant and later suffered potentially related health problems or required revision/replacement surgery, you may be eligible for compensation in an Exactech recall lawsuit.
Being in the early stages of this litigation, the criteria may change over time. However, at this time, you or a loved one may qualify for an Exactech knee implant lawsuit or ankle implant lawsuit if you meet a specific combination of the criteria below:
If you have the following implants, you may qualify for a lawsuit:
- Optetrak: All-polyethylene CR Tibial Components, All-polyethylene PS Tibial Components, CR Tibial Inserts, CR Slope Tibial Inserts, PS Tibial Inserts, HI-FLEX® PS Tibial Inserts
- Optetrak Logic: CR Tibial Inserts, CR Slope Tibial Inserts, CRC Tibial Inserts, PS Tibial Inserts, PSC Tibial Inserts, CC Tibial Inserts
- Truliant: CR Tibial Inserts, CR Slope Tibial Inserts, CRC Tibial Inserts, PS Tibial Inserts, PSC Tibial Inserts
- Vantage: Fixed-Bearing Liner Component
- Connexion GXL Liners in: MCS Hip, Novation Hip, Acumatch Hip
You had any of these implants and have experienced:
- New or worsening pain
- Swelling of the knee or ankle
- Limited mobility/pain when walking
- Inability to bear weight
- Grinding
- Popping (or other noises)
- Instability
- Polyethylene wear
- Osteolysis (breakdown of bone cells)
- You have received a recall letter from Exactech
- If you did NOT receive a recall letter, you had revision knee, hip, or ankle surgery within 10 years of the date of implant.
- If you have NOT received a recall letter and have NOT had revision surgery, you are scheduled to have revision surgery within 60 days.
Exactech Recall Lawsuits Updates
Tarloff Case
In this instance, the Optetrak Logic was implanted in the left knee of a woman named Gayle Tarloff in 2016. She claims that in 2023, she needed revision surgery because of pain, stiffness, discomfort, and weakness.
It is certainly annoying that these trial dates are more than a year away. However, we anticipate—and hope—that the majority of the 1,400 Exactech recall lawsuits filed in the MDL will be resolved prior to the Tarloff trial date.
Gayle Tarloff’s trial will begin on July 6, 2025
Updates October 2024
As of October 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York had 1,770 outstanding multidistrict litigation cases. Nicholas G. Garaufis is the MDL’s presiding judge.
Although they are scheduled to begin in September 2025, there haven’t been any bellwether or test trials in the MDL. Lawsuits are only getting started, and as more mass tort lawyers take on new cases, the number of lawsuits has been rising gradually.
It is highly likely that a global Exactech settlement will occur before that. Lawyers are working hard to prepare the Tarloff case and the others for trial, but nobody is sure of that. If that trial date remains, the first Exactech trial in state court this year might also take place in December.
Let Us Help You With Your Exactech Claim
If you have been implanted with a potentially degrading Exactech knee, hip, or ankle prosthesis (implant) and were subsequently diagnosed with bone loss, lysis, or pain or had to undergo corrective/replacement surgery, you may be entitled to a claim against Exactech. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation with an experienced Exactech lawsuit attorney.
Our mass tort attorneys will listen to you, investigate your claim, and advise you on your best legal options for recovering compensation in a knee, hip, or ankle insertion lawsuit.
At People For Law, we believe that justice matters for those potentially harmed due to potentially defective or dangerous medical devices like Exactech joint implants. Our experienced mass tort attorneys are ready to help you with whatever you need. Contact us today for a case review.