You could qualify to participate in a Zimmer knee implant lawsuit if your knee implant has failed.

The FDA announced a Class 2 recall for the Zimmer Persona Trabecular Metal Tibial Plate in March 2015, just one month after Zimmer issued a recall on the part. Zimmer knee implant lawsuits began soon after.

The metal tibial plate covered by this recall connects to the bone without the use of surgical cement. Instead of using cement, the part has two pegs designed to be inserted directly into the shin bone, known as the tibia.

These pegs were designed to stimulate bone growth, intending for the bone to grow around the pegs and act as a natural stabilizer, something Zimmer refers to as “biological fixation.”

Zimmer Knee Implant Complications

The Zimmer knee implant device went through the FDA’s fast track program that allows devices that are “substantially equivalent” to something already on the market to be FDA-approved without the same clinical trials that a “new” device would need to endure.

In theory, the porous-coated tibial plate was intended to allow the body’s own bone and tissue growth to hold the components in place. However, x-rays that show gaps between the tibial plate and the bone indicate “poor seating.”

Radiolucent lines prove the plate has moved from its originally intended position, and can indicate poor seating and that the implant has become loose.

Another sign of poor seating includes fluid retention around the joint. As metals in the implant wear down, the tiny pieces of metal can make their way into the cracks between the implant plate and the bone. The body reacts with further increases of fluid buildup.

Zimmer Knee Implant Lawsuit Available for Those Affected

Participation in a Zimmer knee implant lawsuit could be appropriate and advantageous to you for several reasons.

Zimmer claims 38 percent of patients who had failed tibial plates had radiolucent lines or underwent revision surgery due to failed parts.

Patients who have endured a second knee surgery because of failed parts could qualify to participate in a Zimmer knee implant lawsuit. A second knee surgery leaves a patient at higher risk for pain and swelling, infection, blood clots, bone loss, fractures and nerve, tissue or blood vessel damage.

Bone that has already been disrupted and traumatized by the initial surgery could need bone grafting in order to complete a second surgery successfully. This extra bone material is either taken from another part of the patient’s own body or is obtained from a donor.

Repeated surgery can also lead to a discrepancy in the length of the patient’s legs.

If you’re unsure whether your knee implant is covered by this Zimmer recall notice, there are ways to find out. You can check an x-ray if you have a copy of one. You will see the pegs on the bottom of the metal plate that attach to the tibia.

If you still are unsure, an attorney who has experience with Zimmer knee implant lawsuits can help you determine if your implant is affected by this recall and if you qualify to pursue compensation through legal representation.