Knee implants are often recommended by doctors to improve mobility and reduce pain. For patients with joint problems and knee problems, implants can be a long-term solution, since these medical devices are meant to last 15-20 years, but some patients are finding that knee implants are not lasting as long as promised. In some cases, the devices are causing serious complications for patients. In the past few years, a number of recalls have been issued for some types of knee plants and many patients have sought legal action after needing additional medical care or after suffering severe injury due to the devices.
Have you had surgery to get knee implants? You are not alone. Each year, over 1.1 million people across the country get hip and knee implants to improve the quality of their lives. Unfortunately, for some of these patients these implants will end up causing rather than solving problems. In some cases, the devices are defective in some way. Some manufacturers have issued recalls of their implants, while in other cases patients are injured by medical devices not yet recalled. In either case, if you have been injured by an unsafe medical device, you will want to think about your legal options and speak to an attorney about your situation.
Symptoms of Defective Knee Implants
Some knee implants fail before they are supposed to or cause inflammation, infection, pain, or damage or the muscles or bones. Patients may notice a number of symptoms, such as:
- Pain
- Difficulty with mobility or movement
- Skin that is hot to the touch
- Swelling at the knee joint
- Fever
If you notice any unusual symptoms after getting a knee implant, talk to your doctor immediately. If something has gone wrong with your surgery or if the implant is defective, you may need revision surgery to fix the problem and replace the medical device. Unfortunately, this surgery is expensive and recovery may be slow because the area may still be recovering from the initial surgery. In addition, surgeons will generally need to resurface the joints, which can cause additional pain and longer recovery time.
Seeking Damages
If you have suffered pain or injury due to a defective knee implant, you deserve answers. Talk to your doctor and contact a personal injury attorney in Hollywood or your community. You may have a defective product claim. Plaintiffs have already sought legal action against DePuy, Zimmer, and other manufacturers. You may be able to take part in a class action claim or launch your own claim.
If you have been injured, you deserve support and you may qualify for compensation. To find out more about possible options, contact Flaxman Law Group. The attorneys at our law firm have more than 60 years of combined experience offering legal advice and representation to clients across South Florida. Our compassionate and professional team is there for our clients every step of the way; our goal is to help injured people on their road to recovery. If you have suffered an injury, call us today to arrange a free accident consultation.