Those who must undergo knee replacement surgery do not expect to have to have their knee replacement device fail.

One major knee replacement device company, Exactech, has had many problems reported with their Optetrak knee implant. As a result, Optetrak knee implant failure is at the center of many lawsuits.

Optetrak Knee Implant Failure

Almost 4.5 million Americans have had to undergo knee replacement surgery, and every year there are 700,000 new surgeries. It is estimated that by the year 2030, Americans may be undergoing 3.5 million knee replacement surgeries per year. Many of these knee replacement surgeries have involved the Optetrak knee implant.

Exactech, the makers of the Optetrak knee implant, is a major player in the world when it comes to knee replacement devices. But many patients with the Optetrak knee implant and their doctors have reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the early failure rates of the Exactech Optetrak knee device.

The main problem regarding Optetrak knee implant failure appears to stem from tibial insert wear and tear of the implant. The journal, Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research, did a study to look at Optetrak knee implant failure rates. The study followed 106 patients after two years post surgery and looked at 110 knee devices.

Some patients who participated in this Optetrack knee implant failure study reported disappointment and dissatisfaction with their knee replacement device. In fact, 15 percent reported disappointment or dissatisfaction.

Another 22 percent of those in the study reported the need for painkillers on a regular basis and pain. Twenty-two percent of the study participants had a knee device that was already beginning to experience tibial loosening and over one-fifth showed signs of patellofemoral conflict.

Also, the study found that 13 of the implants needed revision surgery because of tibial loosening, patellofemoral instability or patellofemoral pain. That is nearly 12 percent of the total knee devices in the study. This tibial loosening, reportedly, was occurring at the cement where the tibial implant interfaced with the bone.

The polyethylene (plastic) inserts in the Exactech Optetrack knee implants were allegedly fragmenting and contributing to the Optetrak knee implant failure events.

Many patients have had to undergo revision surgery because of Optetrak knee implant failure. Other side effects associated with Optetrak knee implant failure include pain, swelling, problems with mobility and stability, infections, fractures at the joint, implant disassociation or loosening, inflammation, a change in the position of the implant itself and patellofemoral tracking lateral release.

Generally speaking, a knee implant or other joint replacement should last a patient up to 15 years. However, many patients suffering from Optetrak knee implant failure experience it far earlier than that.

When this is the case, claimants may be able to file Optetrak knee implant failure lawsuits. Many patients who have had to undergo revision surgery as a result of early knee replacement failure have had to suffer additional pain and suffering and increased costs.

If you believe you have suffered from early Optetrak knee implant failure, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Speaking with an attorney can help you determine the right path for you.

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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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