Those who undergo knee replacement surgery do not expect to continually have knee pain. However, Zimmer Persona knee problems often persist for those who receive the Zimmer Persona knee implant system.

Zimmer Biomet is one of the largest makers of knee implant systems in the world. It is based in Warsaw, Indiana. In recent years, however, it has come under scrutiny as some patients have begun to report many Zimmer Persona knee problems.

A component of the Zimmer Persona knee system is the Trabecular Metal tibial plate. It is a metal piece that is implanted into the tibia bone without the use of cement. Two pegs in the Zimmer Persona knee system are supposed to grow into the bone when implanted in order to give the implant stability.

In 2015, the Zimmer Biomet medical device company announced that it would be instituting a voluntary recall of this implant because of the Zimmer Persona knee problems patients were facing.

This recall affected nearly 12,000 medical devices and affected thousands of patients.

Zimmer Persona Knee Problems

Many knee replacement patients continue to have difficulty long after their knee replacement surgery. The two most serious Zimmer Persona knee problems that patients and doctors report are radiolucent lines and loosening.

Radiolucent lines show up on X-rays and are gaps between the Zimmer Persona Trabecular Metal tibial plate and the bone itself. When this occurs, it is a sign that the device is “poorly seated.”

Radiolucent lines can signify the onset of loosening, the other reported problem that led to the recall. Loosening occurs when the actual metal tibial place comes apart from where it was attached.

When a knee implant becomes loosened, the need for a total revision surgery becomes increased. Revision surgery is much more dangerous and complicated than the original knee implant surgery and puts patients at greater risk of complications.

It can also be more expensive and include a longer recovery time than an original knee replacement surgery. Knee revision surgeries require a specialist experienced in these complicated procedures to perform the surgery.

Complications from revision surgery include fractures, bone loss, swelling, pain, infection, blood clots and nerve, tissue and blood vessel damage.

One month after Zimmer voluntarily recalled the Zimmer Persona device, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the recall as a Class II recall.

Zimmer Persona knee problems range from as serious as radiolucent lines and loosening to persistent pain, lack of ingrowth, globally tight knee, instability, loss of fixation, component failure, patella tracking issues and fracture.

These additional Zimmer Persona knee problems often necessitate revision surgery as well.

Filing a Zimmer Persona Knee Problems Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has received a cementless Zimmer Persona Trabecular Metal tibial plate as part of their knee replacement, you may qualify for a Zimmer Persona knee problems lawsuit. It may benefit you to speak with an attorney knowledgeable about Zimmer Persona knee problems.