Exactech Hip Replacement Attorneys
A hip replacement is a surgery that replaces part or all of the hip joint with a prosthetic joint. The surgeon removes the damaged parts of the hip joint and then replaces them with hip prosthetics, which are usually made out of metal, extremely hard plastics, or ceramic.
What Are Exactech Hip Replacements?
Hip replacement is also called hip arthroplasty, and is generally a last-resort medical treatment for hip pain. It should only be recommended if joint pain is bad enough that it’s interfering with a patient’s day-to-day life and other treatments have not worked to treat the joint pain. Hip replacement failure can result in further damage to an already damaged hip joint and may need further surgery, with more medical bills, greater risks, and longer recovery to endure.
Thousands of patients who have gone through hip replacement failures experienced a negative impact on their mobility and health. Many patients sued the companies responsible for manufacturing the implants, citing design flaws and a failure to adequately warn of potential failures and complications.
If you have experienced complications as a result of hip replacement failure, contact us right away for a free consultation. You won’t pay a dime unless your case is successful.
Who Is Exactech?
Exactech is a medical device company that focuses on surgical tools, orthopedic implants, and joint replacements, such as hip, knee, and ankle replacements. The company, which was founded in 1985, is headquartered in Gainsville, Florida and merged with its now-parent company, TPG Capital, in 2018. TPG Capital is an investment and private equity company formerly known as Texas Pacific Group.
Who Needs a Hip Replacement?
Hip replacements are typically a treatment of last resort for those with chronic hip pain. Doctors will generally try other courses of treatment first, ranging from physical therapy to medications before recommending a hip replacement. Common signs that you may need hip replacement surgery include:
- You have chronic hip pain
- You have arthritis in your hips
- It's difficult to complete everyday tasks
- Your hip joints are damaged
- Your hips are stiff
- Your hip joints rub and grate against each other
- Your mental health is affected
- Other treatments haven't worked
Who Shouldn't Get a Hip Replacement
Those who are more active or participate in sports may find that a hip replacement isn’t the right treament for their hip pain. This is because a very active lifestyle could wear out a hip replacement sooner than its usual life expectancy. Make sure to communicate with your doctor what your lifestyle is like so they know whether or not a hip replacement is right for you. An alternative treatment may be better in certain cases.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition that involves the swelling and inflammation in joints. It’s characterized by chronic pain and stiffness in the joints. There are multiple types of arthritis, which have different causes. The types that are most common in the hips include:
Symptoms of Arthritis
While the different types of arthritis may have different causes, the symptoms tend to be similar across those different types.
- Pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Redness
- Loss of range of motion
Causes of Arthritis
The different types of arthritis are characterized by their cause rather than by their effects. The two most common types of arthritis that can affect the hips are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the joints wears down. This causes the bones to rub against each other, causing pain. This wear and tear can occur over a long period of time or due to an injury. If the cartilage is damaged, rubbing between the bones can also cause bone and other joint tissues to wear down as well.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
With rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system turns on the joint lining and attacks those tissues. This can cause the deterioration of the cartilage and even the bone over time and is characterized by swelling and inflammation.
Risk Factors of Arthritis
Certain people are more at risk of arthritis. Age plays a major role in whether someone develops arthritis. It’s more common in those who are older and can get worse with age. Family history, weight, an injury, and gender can also impact the risk of arthritis.
Complications of Arthritis
Arthritis can have a lasting impact. Chronic pain and limited movement can make it difficult to perform daily tasks, make movement painful, and even cause the joints to lose their shape and alignment.
Risks of Hip Replacement Surgery
As with any surgery, there are risks of side effects and complications. The most common complications that can occur with hip replacement surgery are:
- Dislocation
- Bone fractures
- Infections
- Loosening
- Blood clots
- Different leg lengths
- Nerve damage
- Excessive bleeding
- Heart attack
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Bone loss
Complications and Risks of Hip Replacement Failure
A hip replacement failure occurs when the component parts of a hip implant become loosened from one another, or when the hip implant dislocates from the bone it’s attached to. This could be caused by a failure of the hip implant or of the bone cement used to anchor the implant to the bone. Suspected hip implant failure can be confirmed by a doctor via X-ray.
Implant Loosening
Loosening occurs when either the hip implant has not firmly attached to the bone, or when the implant gradually loosens over time. The symptoms of hip joint loosening are:
- Popping, grinding, or other noises from the hip implant
- Swollen joint
- Pain
- Difficulty walking
Implant Design Flaws
Many complaints about hip implants that have resulted in lawsuits were over hip implant failures. Patients claimed that the failures of their hip implants were the result of design flaws on the part of the manufacturers.
Exactech Hip Replacement Recalls
Because of an issue with packaging, Exactech issued a recall of certain hip replacement devices. The defective packaging allowed oxygen to enter the polyethylene insert. Early oxidation means that the implant could wear out sooner. This increases the risk of the failure of the hip replacement. Revision surgery for a hip replacement can be risky and subsequent hip replacements may not last as long.
Litigation Against Exactech
Exactech is facing more than a thousand lawsuits regarding the hip replacement recalls and faulty packaging. These have been consolidated into multi-district litigation and the initial bellwhether case and addressing of issues with discovery occurred in March of 2024. These cases have not yet been resolved.
When To Consider an Exactech Hip Replacement Lawsuit
Here are some questions to ask if you’re trying to figure out whether you have a case:
- Were you diagnosed with a qualifying injury?
- Have you experienced a hip replacement failure?
- Has that failure resulted in additional replacements or revision surgery?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a case against Exactech. Contact Farah & Farah now for a free consultation to determine the eligibility of your case. Our attorneys are highly experienced with medical cases and will fight for the justice you deserve. You don’t pay anything unless your case is successful, so don’t delay. Contact us now.
Co-counsel will be associated on these cases.
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