For years, patients and medical professionals have reported problems related to Exactech’s joint replacement devices. Not only have victims brought forth lawsuits against Exactech for its knee and ankle replacements, but the company also faces litigation regarding its defective hip liners as well. Individuals implanted with the Exactech Connexion GXL Acetabular hip liners have reported premature failure that may require revision surgery. Have you or a loved one suffered due to a defective Exactech hip implant? The Lake Law Firm wants to speak with you about how an Exactech Connexion GXL Acetabular hip liner lawsuit can help you.
Our law firm is currently handling lawsuits on behalf of individuals who received Exactech Connexion GXL Acetabular liner hip implants. Exactech recalled its hip implants in the summer of 2021 due to the risk of premature failure of the liner.
Exactech is a global medical device company that specializes in joint replacement technology. For decades, the company has aimed to introduce innovative joint replacement devices for hip, knee, and ankle replacement surgery. The hip joint is responsible for supporting the weight of the upper body and providing mobility. This ball-and-socket joint, the largest in the body, is extremely crucial for movement. However, certain injuries or ailments can greatly affect the function of the hip, including age, hip fracture, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In cases where hip pain interferes with daily activities and nonsurgical treatments are no longer effective, surgeons recommend hip surgery. When the natural hip degrades, surgeons insert a plastic device known as a hip liner during hip replacement surgery. Once the hip liner is in place, the components of the new hip can move freely once again.
Exactech released its Exactech Connexion GXL liners as part of its Novation and Alteon hip replacement systems. The company manufactured these hip liners with ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) plastic to resist degradation.
In July 2021, Exactech recalled several models of its Exactech Connexion GXL Acetabular Polyethylene hip liner. Exactech issued a letter to warn healthcare providers about the risks of Exactech Connexion GXL Acetabular hip liners. The company explained that one of the packaging layers for the plastic insert does not conform to specifications. This inappropriate packaging may result in oxygen entering the plastic insert before implantation. When oxygen infiltrates during device storage, oxidation can occur and cause the plastic to rapidly degrade inside the patient’s body.
Yet, the problems did not stop there, because Exactech initiated a sweeping recall of its knee and ankle replacements due to the same defect in the vacuum-seal packaging in August 2021. The company expanded this immense recall in February 2022, and in total, it affected over 150,000 implants.
Exactech extended the hip liner recall to 40,000 of its plastic hip liners in August 2022. This expansion brought the total number of Exactech hip liner called to 125,000.
Several studies have shown that Exactech hip liners may be prone to early failure. A study by the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Florida College of Medicine reviewed patients who had revision surgery after premature failure of the Exactech Connexion GXL hip liner. The surgeons found that patients implanted with Exactech hip liners from January 2009 to June 2019 experienced osteolysis (bone loss and destruction to the hip socket).
Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacture and User Facility Device Experience database found that 83 patients had revision surgery after receiving the Exactech Connexion GXL hip liner implant. Twenty-two of the patients required revision surgery due to excessive wear of the device. The average time between hip replacement surgery and revision surgery was 6.5 years.
Some Exactech hip implants may be defective and fail after implantation. This may lead to a variety of problems, such as:
Exactech faces an increasing amount of litigation for its compromised hip, knee, and ankle liners. In October 2022, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) centralized Exactech knee, ankle, and hip replacement lawsuits into MDL-3044. This MDL applies to not only the defective Exactech knee and ankle liners but also the hazardous hip liners distributed by the company.
If you or a loved one has been injured by Exactech Connexion GXL Acetabular Hip Liner Lawsuit, you may recover compensation for any or all of the following:
The Lake Law Firm was founded by Edward J. Lake, Esq., a personal injury lawyer for over 25 years. Our dedicated team of attorneys is committed to seeking justice on behalf of those who have suffered injury or death due to the negligence of others. Our experienced attorneys handle many different types of pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, and other defective products. The lawyers in our firm have helped collect millions of dollars for their clients. The Lake Law Firm will advocate for you and your rights. Please contact us for a free confidential case evaluation at (888) 525-3529 or submit an inquiry on this page.