A Zimmer knee implant failure has prompted a lawsuit against the company, also known as Zimmer Biomet.

Plaintiff Paul N. underwent a total left knee replacement surgery on Jan. 13, 2014. Zimmer’s Persona Trabecular Metal components that do not make use of cement were implanted without complications at the time of surgery.

Paul’s surgeon told him in March 2015 that the parts used in his knee implant surgery were subject to a recall. Paul says he had been experiencing problems in his left knee even though the surgery had been done only 14 months ago. In October 2015, Paul says, he had a revision surgery because of the Zimmer knee implant failure.

Instead of using cement, the part that failed uses two pegs designed to be inserted directly into the shin bone, known as the tibia.

Zimmer Knee Implant Failure Due to Tibial Plate Issue

The Zimmer recall is due to the tibial plate that connects to the bone without cement. The bone is supposed to grow around the two pegs once inserted into the tibia to act as a natural stabilizer. In theory, the body’s own bone growth is supposed to be enough to secure the mechanism, but that does not always happen.

Unfortunately, many times X-rays show gaps between the tibial plate and the bone, which indicate “poor seating.” This condition is revealed by the appearance of radiolucent lines that show the plate has moved from its originally intended position. The loosened implant can cause pain and inflammation.

Poor seating can lead to many problems, including fluid retention around the joint. Debris as the implant wears down can make its way into the cracks between the implant plate and the bone. Loose implants can damage the bone as the pegs even slightly move around inside their intended position in the tibia.

The other complaint is that the metal plate completely comes loose from the tibia. A revision surgery is then necessary.

Among the problems that lead to revision surgery are persistent pain and device loosening. Other causes of revision surgery include a lack of ingrowth into the bone, loss of fixation into the bone, instability and patella tracking problems. Inflammation and poor seating also might result in a tight, stiff knee or fracture.

Although knee revision surgery can solve the issues related to the Zimmer knee implant failure, a knee revision surgery can leave a patient at higher risk of pain and swelling, infection, blood clots, bone loss, fractures and nerve, tissue or blood vessel damage.

Repeated surgery also can lead to one leg being slightly longer than the other, resulting in a persistent limp. This is especially true of the Zimmer knee implant failure because the pegged part of the implant has dug in to the tibia, possibly affecting the length of the bone upon revision.

The Zimmer Knee Implant Failure Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-00347-JLG-TPK in the Court of Common Pleas, Franklin County, Ohio.