A total of approximately 12,000 patients have been implanted with a knee replacement device that has been the target of a voluntary recall by its manufacturer.

The Zimmer knee recall was announced by the FDA in February 2015 for the Zimmer Persona tibial plate, a few years after the company had released it onto the market and just one month after Zimmer issued its own voluntary recall for the product.

The Zimmer knee recall was designated as a Class II FDA recall, which is issued when a product can cause “temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”

Zimmer Knee Recall Basics

When the Zimmer Persona was released in 2012, it was marketed as a knee replacement device offering a better and more precise anatomical fit as compared to other knee replacement products. The particular product in the Zimmer knee recall uses an implant of metal tibial plates but does not use cement in the implantation.

In place of using the cement in the Zimmer knee replacement, the device is attached to the knee by using metal pegs. These pegs were designed to stabilize the implant without the use of cement.

For some, this type of implantation was not an issue. But for others, not having cement in the knee replacement led to patients having gaps between bone and the knee implant. Additionally, the device was able to shift out of place and became loose for some knee replacement patients.

A factor that contributed to the recall was the likelihood that an individual implanted with the Zimmer Persona knee would have to have revision surgery in order to repair any damage done by the initial knee replacement.

For patients who experienced chronic knee pain, loosening of the device, or a knee that became tight or unstable, they are at an increased risk of needing knee revision surgery.  Knee revision surgeries can help reverse the pain and other symptoms experienced by patients affected by the Zimmer knee recall, but revision surgery does not always completely fix the situation.

Patients undergoing a revision surgery following the placement of their Zimmer knee implant may experience problems from the revision surgery itself, as these types of surgeries typically carry a greater risk than the initial surgery itself.

Knee revision surgeries may lead to patients experiencing additional pain and swelling at the site of the surgery, surgical site infections, fractures, bone loss, blood clots, and more.

What to Do If You’ve Had A Knee Replacement Affected by the Zimmer Knee Recall

If you have suffered complications from a knee replacement that was subject to the Zimmer knee recall, you may be entitled to legal compensation.

Patients imlanted with a Zimmer Persona implant may be entitled to recoer compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.

An attorney familiar with the Zimmer knee recall can review your case at no charge and can help you understand the legal options that are available to you.