Patients who have been affected by Zimmer Persona knee replacement recall may be eligible to file a Zimmer knee lawsuit against the manufacturer to recover financial losses related to their injury.

Initially, Zimmer issued a voluntary recall for the device in February 2015; the FDA announced a Class II recall for the device a month later.

A Class II FDA recall is given when a product “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or when the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” A Class I FDA recall, on the other hand, is issued in more serious situations when a potential for death may result from the product.

Approximately 12,000 Zimmer Persona knee replacement systems were affected by the March 2015 recall.

When the Zimmer Persona knee device was first released onto the market, it was marketed as having an increased ability to deliver an anatomical fit when compared to similar devices on the market.

The particular Zimmer Persona knee implant systems that were subject to the recall were those that did not use cement to attach the device, but rather metal pegs were used in order to help stabilize the implant.

For some patients, this lack of cement appears to have contributed to the problems associated with the device. Specifically, gaps were found between the Zimmer knee implant device and the patient’s bone due to the device’s ability to shift without the use of cement. In addition to shifting out of place, some patients experienced device loosening.

In order to fix the problem caused by the Zimmer Persona knee implant, or as a result of the device failure, many patients have had to undergo revision surgery. Patients experienced knee instability, or alternatively, a tight knee, knee pain, loosening of the device, loss of fixation of the device, lack of ingrowth, or patellar tracking issues that affected the kneecap.

Fortunately some who underwent revision surgery were able to reverse the symptoms they were experiencing, but for others, a second knee surgery in a short span of time caused additional issues. In general, revision surgeries are more difficult to recover from and there is a poorer treatment outcome in contrast to the initial revision surgery.

A Zimmer Knee Lawsuit May Help Recover Losses

Patients may wish to file a Zimmer knee lawsuit in order to seek legal compensation for the losses they suffered as a result of the Zimmer knee implant. A product liability lawsuit can assist in recovery of damages related to medical expenses, lost wages and lost earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of spousal companionship, pain and suffering, emotional distress and more.

Plaintiffs in product liability lawsuits generally claim that product manufacturers did not do enough to properly warn patients and physicians about the potential for side effects; they may also claim that the product was defectively designed and/or manufactured.

If you had a Zimmer Persona knee replacement system implanted between March 2013 and March 2015 and you required revision surgery, you may be eligible to seek legal compensation by participating in a lawsuit. An experienced attorney can review your case at no charge and can make recommendations to you regarding your eligibility and guide you in your next steps.