Patients who needed revision surgery after being implanted with a Zimmer knee implant including the Persona TM tibial plate may qualify for legal action.

In 2015, part of the Zimmer knee implant was voluntarily recalled due to reports that the Persona TM Tibial Plate was failing prematurely. The voluntary recall affected all sizes and lots of the Persona TM tibial plate, affecting over 12,000 Zimmer knee implant units.

Although only one component of the knee replacement implant was affected, entire knee replacement systems may have been replaced due to component failure.

Knee replacements are fairly common surgeries in which a doctor replaces the existing knee joint in a patient. Patients may need knee replacements for a variety of reasons including injury, structural bone defects, or degenerative conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis. A wide variety of knee replacement systems are available for use and the best option will vary based on patient needs.

The Zimmer Persona knee replacement is a personalized total knee replacement system that was marketed as a device which considered individual patient needs to find the best fit. The components of the Zimmer knee implant, including the Persona TM tibial plate, come in different sizes and fits so that the surgeon can personalize the implant for the patient.

“In a market focused on matching the bone to the implant shape and size, we found that the opposite needed to happen … we need to match the implant to the shape and size of the resected bone,” Zimmer’s website states. In theory, the Zimmer knee implant would allow surgeons to personalize the implant based on patient needs.

The Persona TM tibial plate, which was the subject of Zimmer’s voluntary recall, is a metal component which attaches to the end of the tibia by two pegs which are inserted into pre-drilled holes. The pegs on the component are designed to fuse with the bone through natural bone growth during the healing process. The natural fusion of implant to the bone increases the stability of the joint.

According to the voluntary recall, the tibial plate may not fuse with the bone during the healing process. This can result in visible gaps between the component and the bone during X-ray imaging, signaling poor seating of the implant.

Poor seating of the Zimmer knee implant can cause complications in patients and symptoms including persistent pain, loosening of the device, lack of ingrowth, component failure, loss of mobility, inflammation, joint instability, fracture, and patella tracking issues. 38 percent of patients with complications due to the Persona trabecular metal tibial plate allegedly had a visible gap on their X-ray or underwent revision surgery. A large number of patients reporting complications prompted Zimmer to voluntarily recall the component.

Patients who develop complications from their Zimmer knee implant may have to undergo revision surgery to fix the problem. However, revision surgery can have serious risks and a difficult recovery process. If the component failure caused any sort of bone damage, the unusable bone will have to be removed. If there is not enough usable bone for the surgeon to use, bone grafts may be required to compensate for the damaged bone. The healing process can also be difficult on patients, especially if a component failure of the Zimmer knee implant resulted in tissue damage.

If you or a loved one experiences complications due to the Zimmer knee implant which resulted in revision surgery, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income, and more.