The popular Zimmer knee replacement has been linked with serious side effects, which a growing number of consumers claim is the result of device defects. A device component has even be recalled due to reports of side effects.

According to lawsuits, consumers were not given adequate warning about the risks associated with the Zimmer knee replacement device, which include pain, inflammation, and more, and which in some cases may necessitate revision surgery to alleviate.

Basics of the Zimmer Knee Replacement

The Zimmer knee replacement is one of the more popular knee options, implanted into the knee and attached with the use of the Persona Trabecular Metal tibial plate. Pegs are inserted into the bone, and are allowed to “grow” into the bone, giving the implant stability.

However, this Zimmer knee replacement component was recalled by the manufacturer over reported side effects in February 2015, affecting around 12,000 individual components.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a notice regarding the recall in March 2015, and categorized the device as a “Class 2 Recall.” A Class 2 Recall like this indicates that the defective device is capable of causing temporary or reversible harm. A Class 1 Recall, by contrast, would mean that the device is capable of causing lasting or permanent harm.

The majority of the reports that led to the recall referenced two major side effects: radiolucent lines and device loosening.

Radiolucent lines are, essentially, small gaps between the Zimmer knee replacement component and the bone, which indicates poor seating. This means that the device has moved from where it’s supposed to be. This is the first sign of device loosening, the other major reported side effect.

Device loosening means that the component has actually come loose from its original position, and often leads patients to undergo revision surgery.

Zimmer has reported that 38 percent of the complaints it received about the Zimmer knee replacement referenced radiolucent lines or revision surgery from device failure. For many, revision surgery was caused by issues like pain, loosening, failure, tightness, instability, and fracture, among others.

Of course, any revision surgery brings about further risks. Patients undergoing Zimmer knee replacement revision may be at risk of pain, infection, blood clots, bone loss, fractures, or even nerve, tissue, or blood vessel damage. On top of the medical risks, patients forced to undergo revision surgery also incur additional medical expenses.

Filing a Zimmer Knee Replacement Lawsuit

If you or someone you love have suffered from Zimmer knee replacement side effects after surgery with a device including the Trabecular Metal tibial plate component, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the device’s manufacturer. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by problems with a Zimmer knee replacement device, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.