Zimmer Biomet recently issued a recall of the Biomet reverse shoulder device known as the Comprehensive Reverse Shoulder System. This recall issued by the FDA falls under a Class 1 recall, which is the most serious type of recall that can be issued because the device in question may lead to serious injury or death of the patient.

The Biomet reverse shoulder system was designed for patients who are unable to have a traditional shoulder replacement. These patients typically have weak tendons that were unable to support a traditional implant.

The reverse shoulder implant attaches on the reverse of where a traditional shoulder attachment would be placed, allowing more patients to take advantage of shoulder replacement.

However, complications that arise during the placement of the device with the reverse attachment have actually been the cause of the recall. Patients have been experiencing shoulder device fractures as a result of the Biomet reverse shoulder implant. Many of these fractures actually took place during the surgery to implant the device.

Zimmer Biomet began informing physicians about the recall in December 2016. The FDA recall covered a total of 3,622 devices. As part of the recall, physicians were instructed to quarantine and return the devices to the manufacturer.

The devices included in the recall included those that were manufactured between August 2008 and September 2011 and distributed between October 2008 and September 2015. Patients who underwent reverse shoulder replacement surgery since that time may have been implanted with the recalled Zimmer device.

Biomet Lawsuit Settlement

Last year, a settlement was reached with a plaintiff who filed a lawsuit against Biomet over a previously recalled Biomet reverse shoulder device.

According to this Biomet lawsuit, the plaintiff underwent surgery and received a shoulder replacement using the Biomet Comprehensive Reverse Shoulder in his left shoulder in 2009. He had the same device implanted in his right shoulder following year.

According to the plaintiff, his shoulders experienced failure where the trunnion joined the baseplate, leading to a great deal of pain and causing the man to lose function of his shoulder. He had to undergo a revision surgery to remove the Biomet implants and have the devices replaced.

The Biomet reverse shoulder implants were recalled in 2010 due to reports that the device fractured at the joint between the trunnion in the baseplate of the shoulder replacement.

Initially, the Biomet lawsuit was set to go to trial at the end of February 2016. But early that month, the plaintiff filed a motion seeking an entry of judgment. The court responded by issuing a judgment in favor of the plaintiff for a total of $350,000.

Filing a Biomet Reverse Shoulder Lawsuit

If you received a Biomet shoulder implant that is a part of the current Biomet shoulder replacement recall and you suffered a fracture from the device, you may be eligible to seek legal compensation for your injury.

An experienced medical device attorney can review your case at no charge and can consult with you on your legal options to pursue compensation.