Despite the popularity of the Zimmer Persona knee replacement, the device has been connected with some serious complications.

A recall was issued in response back in 2015 over a specific component of the Zimmer Persona knee replacement: the tibial plate. The recall may still impact patients today, as thousands have been implanted with the device and many yet have these implants today.

According to patient complaints, the complications linked with the Zimmer Persona knee replacement component are more than simple wear and tear, which might be expected of such a device. Instead, side effects include implant failure, and may require additional surgery to correct.

The Zimmer Persona Knee Replacement

In the United States, knee replacement surgery is one of the more common surgical procedures. In fact, around 600,000 patients undergo knee replacement surgery every year across the U.S. Unfortunately, more and more patients each year report suffering from a variety of serious complications associated with particular knee implant devices.

The Zimmer Persona knee replacement device includes a component called the tibial plate. The tibial plate is attached to the tibia bone with two pegs, meant to stabilize the device. However, patients claim that the tibial plate component is actually defective, and may cause side effects as serious as device failure, which can require revision surgery.

There are two main problems that have been associated with the Zimmer Persona knee replacement device. The first problem is with radiolucent lines, which appear as gaps between the knee implant and the bone under an x-ray. Radiolucent lines indicate poor seating of the device which, over time, will only grow worse. This can indicate device failure.

The other major complication linked with a Zimmer Persona knee replacement is device loosening. With loosening, the tibial plate component may become detached from its original placement.

Both of these major complications often require revision surgery to fix. Of course, any additional surgery will carry with it its own risks, as well as further medical costs.

Zimmer Persona Knee Replacement Recall

The Zimmer Persona knee replacement recall was issued back in March 2015 due to reports of serious complications with the device’s tibial plate component. The recall was classified as Class II, indicating that the device is capable of causing temporary or reversible harm. A Class I recall would have indicated the potential for permanent harm or even death. The 2015 recall affected somewhere around 12,000 units.

Filing a Zimmer Persona Knee Replacement Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has suffered complications from a Zimmer Persona knee replacement failure, such as radiolucent lines or device loosening, and have since needed to undergo revision surgery, you may be able to file a lawsuit.

While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the physical pain and emotional suffering caused by problems with the device, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs associated with these injuries.