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Polyethylene liners used with certain Exactech hip, knee, and ankle systems may be prone to premature wear, resulting in osteolysis and other debilitating complications that require surgical interventions, including revision surgery to remove and replace the artificial joint.

If you suffered complications related to the recent Exactech recall, filing a lawsuit may be your only hope of receiving full compensation for all of the damages related to your injuries.

Arrange for a Free Exactech Lawsuit Review

Bernstein Liebhard LLP is offering free legal reviews to Exactech hip, knee, and ankle implant patients who may have experienced complications due to defective Optetrak and Connexion GXL polyethylene liners at the center of the Exactech recall. To arrange for your free, no-obligation Exactech lawsuit review, please fill out our online form or call (888) 994-5118.

What’s Going on With Exactech Polyethylene Liners?

In less than two years, Exactech has recalled nearly 150,000 polyethylene (or plastic) liners used with various artificial hip, ankle, and knee implants since 2004. The first recall was announced in June 2021 for 90,000 Connexion GXL acetabular liners used with the following Exactech metal-on-plastic hip replacement systems:

• Acumatch GXL
• Novation GXL
• MCS Hip System

While metal-on-plastic hip replacements are supposed to last 25 years or more, data indicated that an unusually high number of hips with Connexion GXL liners were failing within 3-to-6 years. The company also sent letters to surgeons recommending that patients follow up if they underwent Exactech hip replacement in the last 6 years but had not had an appointment in the past 12 months.

Just months later, in February 2022, the company recalled 147,000 Optetrak Polyethylene liners used in knee and ankle replacements, including:

• 60,926 Exactech Optetrak knee replacement liners used since 2004
• 60,518 Exactech Optetrak Logic knee replacement liners used since 2009
• 24,727 Exactech Optetrak Truliant knee replacement liners used since 2017
• 1,561 Exactech Vantage liners used in ankle replacement surgeries since 2016.

According to Exactech, the Optetrak knee and ankle recalls were necessary because defective bags used to store the liners could allow oxygen to diffuse the plastic insert, resulting in oxidation before joint replacement surgery.

What Should I Do if My Exactech Liner is Defective?

The consequences of a defective Connexion or Optetrak liner can be devastating for recipients of an Exactech hip, knee, or ankle implant:

• Osteolysis (bone degeneration)
• Bone loss, loosening, lysis, and pain after a knee or ankle replacement
• Component fatigue, cracking, or fracture
• Pain, stiffness, and limited mobility in the implanted joint.
• Difficulty walking
• Implant failure resulting in premature revision surgery

Exactech issued letters to inform physicians of the Connexion and Optetrak plastic liner recalls. However, it was up to doctors to follow up with their patients. Unfortunately, it’s not clear how many patients were notified. In fact, your Exactech joint implant could still be included in the recall even if you haven’t received an official notice from your doctor. If you experience any of the above symptoms or complications, you should obtain your medical records to determine if your joint implant used one of the recalled Exactech liners.

Exactech has already hired Broadspire, a settlement adjusting company, to oversee a claims reimbursement process related to these recalls. However, it appears reimbursement might be limited to “recall-related out-of-pocket expenses.” Before filing an Exactech claim with Broadspire, you should understand that you’re likely entitled to additional reimbursement, including financial damages related to:

• Pain and suffering caused by the failed implant;
• Inconvenience and recovery time from additional surgery;
• Lost wages or loss of earning capacity;
• Past and future medical expenses that may be the direct result of the defective implant.

Receiving compensation through the Broadspire claims program could require that you surrender all rights to additional compensation. It’s also possible that Exactech will use any information you provide to Broadspire as part of your claim to minimize any settlement you do receive.

For that reason, it’s in your best interest NOT to contact Exactech or Broadspire directly until you’ve had a chance to speak with an experienced medical device lawyer about filing an Exactech lawsuit.

Contact Our Exactech Recall Lawyers Today

The medical device lawyers at Bernstein Liebhard LLP are ready to fight for your rights and ensure you receive all the compensation you deserve. If you suffered complications related to the Exactech polyethylene liner recalls, fill out our online form or call (888) 994-5118  today to learn more about your legal options.