If your received a Zimmer Persona knee implant between 2012 and 2015 and are suffering from the tibial plate loosening, you could be eligible for compensation.

The Zimmer Persona Tibial Plate was recalled by Zimmer in March 2015 after reports of the tibial plate loosening from its original placement. Nearly 12,000 components were affected by this recall.

Patients experiencing persistent pain, mobility issues, inflammation, knee instability or knee tightness could be suffering from a loose tibial plate that was implanted and secured without the use of surgical cement. The Zimmer Persona Tibial Plate was designed to attach to the tibia through the use of two pegs inserted into the bone. The idea was that the bone would grow around the pegs to stabilize the knee implant.

Radiolucent lines visible on an x-ray can indicate the tibial plate has become loose. These lines appear as tiny gaps between the tibial plate. The gaps indicate “poor seating” and that the tibial plate has moved from its original placement.

A loosened implant often causes pain and inflammation. Fluid retention around the joint adds to the pain and pressure.

Moreover, when implants loosen, the components can damage the bone. The tibial plate’s pegs moving around inside the tibia can wear away bits of bone mass.

Tibial Plate Loosening Results in Revision Surgery

The risk of revision surgery often becomes necessary with tibial plate loosening. In some cases, the tibial plate has completely separated from the tibia.

Patients suffering from persistent pain, a lack of ingrowth into the tibia bone, loss of fixation in the tibia bone, knee instability and patella (knee cap) tracking problems could need revision surgery.

Over time, inflammation and poor seating can cause the knee to become stiff and tight or even result in a fracture.

Zimmer has reported that among the complaints it has received regarding the tibial plate loosening, 38 percent of patients had symptomatic radiolucent lines or underwent revision surgery.

Even though knee revision surgery can resolve the issue with a loose tibial plate, patients face potentially dangerous risks the second time around. The patient is more apt to experience pain and swelling, infection, blood clots or bone loss.

Nerves, tissues and blood vessels are also at a greater risk of injury during a revision surgery. The possibility of fractures increases, as does the potential for a discrepancy in the length of the patient’s legs.

Of course, the patient undergoing knee revision surgery will incur an additional hospital stay and medical expenses. The second surgery will mean more time off work and more time away from friends and family activities as the patient endures time to heal and time devoted to physical therapy.

If you or someone you love has had to endure a second knee replacement surgery because of a Zimmer Persona tibial plate loosening, you could qualify to participate in this investigation.