A voluntary Zimmer tibial plate recall, involving a component used in the popular Zimmer Persona knee replacement system, has affected approximately 12,000 individual units already distributed to healthcare providers.

Zimmer issued the voluntary recall for its tibial plate in 2015, and the FDA later announced the Zimmer tibial plate recall initiated by the manufacturer. The recall indicated that the tibial plate component was causing the knee implant to become loose and shift from its original positioning, causing a host of complaints in affected patients.

Unlike other knee implant systems which use cement to attach the tibial plate, the Zimmer Persona tibial plate was attached to the patient’s knee bone using two pegs. These pegs were intended to stabilize the implant, but for some patients, the implant became unstable.

The Zimmer tibial plate recall was issued due to two main concerns that plagued the device component. The first issue was that radiolucent lines were found on x-rays of patients who complained of problems following their knee replacement surgery where the Zimmer tibial plate was attached with pegs. These radiolucent lines in the x-rays showed that there were gaps between the tibial plate and the bone.

In addition to the radiolucent lines, obvious loosening was noticed in some patients whose knee implant was affected by the Zimmer tibial plate recall. The loosening of these components, Zimmer stated, “is one of the most prevalent causes for revision in total knee arthroplasty.”

Patients whose knee implants were subject to the Zimmer tibial plate recall reported a number of complications that led to the eventual need for revision surgery. In a revision surgery, the defective components of the device are removed and replaced. Many patients needed revision surgery when following reported complications occurred:

• Patella tracking issues, where the kneecap does not move properly
• Fractures surrounding the knee
• Lack of ingrowth, or the natural process by which bone should grow into the implant after it is place
• Device loosening, leading to instability of the knee
• Global tightness in the knee, restricting flexibility

Zimmer Tibial Plate Recall Lawsuits

Patients may be eligible to take legal action against the manufacturer if they received a Zimmer Persona knee implant between 2012 and 2015 where the Zimmer tibial plate was placed using pegs rather than cement, and if they experienced complications leading to revision surgery .

Patients whose implant was subject to the Zimmer tibial plate recall may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer in order to recover losses related to medical expenses, hospital stays, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of spousal companionship and more.

An attorney familiar with the intricacies of filing a lawsuit over complications stemming from the Zimmer tibial plate recall can help potential plaintiffs weigh the facts and circumstances of their individual situation and can help determine if taking legal actions is right for them.