Knee replacement is necessary when a patient’s joint is damaged due to accident, arthritis or other conditions. The surgery is very common with around 4.4 million Americans having undergone the process. During the surgery, the natural joint is removed and replaced with a synthetic implant that mimics the movement of the natural joint.

With more Americans needing knee replacement surgery, many medical device companies have developed lines of knee implants for use by orthopedic surgeons. Exactech is one such company and has been producing implants for over 30 years. The Optetrak line of knee implants has been in production since 1994.

In 2011 and 2012, Exactech released Optetrak knee implants which were different from previous versions. These knee implants featured a “finned” tibial tray, which may contribute to Exactech Optetrak failure. Since the 2011 Optetrak release, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received numerous reports of Exactech Optetrak failure, often necessitating revision surgery.

Symptoms of Exactech Optetrak failure reportedly include pain, mobility issues, swelling, instability problems, infections, fractures, disassociation of implant, inflammation, loosening of implant, change in component position, patello-femoral tracking-lateral release and more.

Exactech Optetrak failure may be due to component failure stemming from the finned tibial tray. The interface between the tibial tray and bone allegedly experiences loosening due to poor cement adhesion. Other problems causing Exactech Optetrak failure include fragmentation and wear on the polyethylene insert.

A study on Exactech Optetrak failure showed that consumers who received the implant were frequently dissatisfied with their knee replacement due to pain and other side effects.

The study, done by Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research, examined 110 implants in 106 patients 25 months after implantation. 15 percent of patients reported being disappointed with their implant and 22% reported using pain medication on a regular basis. Of the 110 implant studies, 13 needed revision surgery for component loosening, joint instability and pain.

In revision surgery, the defective implant is removed and replaced with another device. The process can be difficult, especially if device failure caused damage to tissue and bone. If damage was severe enough, a surgeon may need to graft additional bone and work around damaged tissue.

Although revision surgery may resolve the issues caused by Exactech Optetrak failure, the process is not easy and is associated with serious risks. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, complications of revision surgeries include pain, swelling, stiffness, infection, blood clots, bone loss, fractures and reduced range of motion.

Additionally, there is no guarantee that the revised implant will perform as desired, meaning patients may have to undergo additional surgery later on.

Patients who experienced Exactech Optetrak failure may be eligible for compensation through a knee replacement lawsuit. If you or a loved one experienced Exactech Optetrak failure, you may be eligible for a knee replacement lawsuit. A knee replacement lawsuit would aim to hold Exactech accountable for releasing an allegedly defective implant. Such litigation could potentially recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, permanent disability, loss of past and future earnings and more.

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If you or a loved one suffered from complications caused by an Attune knee implant, an Arthrex knee implant, or an Exactech knee implant, you may have a legal claim. In general, knee replacement surgery lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions. Get help now by filling out the form on this page for a FREE case evaluation.

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