Lawyers for Injuries Arising Out of Exactech Implant Systems

Exactech is a leading maker of implant systems, medical devices, used in joint replacement surgeries. The company had recalled all its knee, hip & ankle replacement implants made after 2004 when it was found that a packaging defect resulted in degradation of a polyethylene insert prior to use. When an insert prematurely fails, a patient may experience severe pain; the failure may necessitate a revision surgery to replace it. Recently, in the course of a hearing, the cases were consolidated in multidistrict litigation. If you were harmed by an Exactech implant system, you should discuss your claim with the knowledgeable product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group.

Call Moll Law Group About Exactech Implant Injuries

An orthopedic surgeon, along with a biomedical engineer and organizational culture advocate, founded Exactech to develop and make joint implants, which are used by surgeons to relieve pain and also allow for mobility. Exactech’s product line includes software and instruments, along with biologics meant to accelerate wound healing. The company’s primary products are hip, shoulder, ankle, and knee replacement devices with varying names. Novation, Alteon, and BIOLOXdelta are Exactech hip replacement models.

Studies have revealed that the company’s hip implants have a 5-year survival rate, which means there is a lower chance that an implant would need to be replaced in 5 years. Over a period of years, Exactech has faced lawsuits based on allegations that it knowingly sold defective products to government entities and participated in unlawful consulting agreements with doctors. The company faces numerous legal claims based on the circumstances of its recall of ankle and knee implants last year and this year. The Novation Element Step had at least a 92.4% survival rate at 5 years. The authors of the study stressed that further long-term studies were needed to evaluate performance over time.

Hearing 

On September 29, 2022A hearing was held at the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse in Missouri, to look over different matters under 28 U.S.C. § 1407. These included the question of whether the lawsuits should be consolidated in a multidistrict litigation. Oral arguments related to whether the case should be consolidated started in the morning and were presented to an en banc panel. Certain matters were heard without oral argument.

Multidistrict litigation allows the use of certain tools that individual lawsuits do not. These cases usually involve many larger cases as opposed to class action lawsuits in which one or more plaintiffs represent the larger group of individuals. When MDLs are used, resources may be conserved in the interests of consistent court rulings related to similar legal issues. Sometimes this process assists with settlement.

It can be very painful to have a joint replacement system fail. On top of that, revision surgeries and subsequent medical care can be extremely expensive. Those who believe they were injured by a defective hip or ankle replacement that Exactech or another company made should seek legal counsel to determine whether they have a viable claim for damages. When lawsuits are successful, it may be possible to recover medical bills, wage loss, and pain and suffering.

Consult a Seasoned Lawyer About Injuries from Exactech

If you were injured by an Exactech implant you should call the seasoned Chicago-based personal injury lawyers of Moll Law Group about whether you have grounds to sue. Give us a call at 312.462.1700 or via our online form if you suspect you may have a claim.