Following Zimmer’s Persona tibial plate recall, consumers who needed revision surgery due to implant complications may be eligible for legal action.

Knee replacement surgery is common in the United States, with over 4.4 million Americans having undergone the procedure. Knee replacement is needed when the natural joint, including bone and connective tissue, is damaged due to accident, injury, arthritis, osteoporosis, or other conditions which compromise the joint.

With more Americans needing knee replacement surgery, many medical device companies have developed implants in an attempt to serve the growing need. One such implant is the Zimmer Persona knee implant, a “personalized” total knee replacement system that was marketed as considering individual patient needs to find the best fit.

Zimmer designed the knee implant so that surgeons would be able to personalize the implant based on patient needs and the health of bone available instead of manipulating healthy bone to compensate the implant.Components of the Persona knee implant come in different sizes and fits so that a surgeon can personalize the implant based on a patient’s individual needs.

Although the Zimmer Persona implant offers a refreshing outlook on the knee replacement process, a Persona tibial plate recall was issued in 2015. Following reports that the tibial plate showed signs of loosening in some patients, Zimmer recalled over 12,000 units that had been distributed across the globe.

The recalled tibial plate is attached to the tibia by two pegs. The pegs are designed to fuse with the bone during the natural healing process to create stability for the new joint without the use of cement.

The recall was announced following reports that the tibial plate does not always maintain a good connection to the bone as intended. This can result in component loosening and gaps between the component and bone, visible in X-ray images.

The visible gap can be a sign of poor seating of the tibial plate, causing complications in patients and symptoms including persistent pain, loosening of the device, lack of ingrowth, component failure, loss of mobility, inflammation, joint instability, fracture, and patella tracking issues.

Patients may need to undergo revision surgery to remedy the issue. Although revision surgery can fix the tibial plate defects, the process is associated with many risks and a long, difficult recovery period. Additionally, there is no guarantee that the new implant will work without problems, meaning that patients affected by the Persona tibial plate recall may face more surgeries in the future.

If you or a loved one were implanted with a knee implant and later experienced unexpected complications, you may be eligible for a Zimmer Persona knee lawsuit. Legal action against Zimmer could help recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, past and future loss of earnings, permanent disability, and more.