Arthrex iBalance^® TKA Knee Replacement Lawsuits

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Patients implanted with the Arthrex iBalance TKA (Total Knee Arthroplasty) artificial knee may require revision surgery due to implant failure because of a design flaw. Those patients may file Arthrex iBalance knee lawsuits to compensate them for pain, suffering, and lost work and medical expenses.

Total knee replacements should last about 20 years. But the Arthrex iBalance TKA device contained a design flaw in its tibial tray that may cause the implant to fail prematurely. Patients who received the Arthrex iBalance TKA, which was recalled in December 2015 and March 2016, and have had or been told they need revision surgery should consult an attorney about filing an Arthrex iBalance knee lawsuit.

Trustwell Law is accepting cases on behalf of patients who received an Arthrex iBalance TKA knee replacement and have had or been told they need revision surgery. Contact us at 800-796-1636 or submit your case details online for a free consultation, and someone from our legal team will contact you shortly. You may be entitled to compensation.

Our attorneys have years of experience and a reputation for personalized, compassionate partnering with our clients. We also have access to the expertise, resources, and manpower to fully investigate your circumstances in order to get you the justice you deserve.

Arthrex iBalance Total Knee Arthroplasty

The Arthrex iBalance TKA was designed for knee replacements needed due to:

• Knee cartilage degeneration caused by osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
• Post-traumatic arthritis, when the joint wears out because of injuries from sports, accidents, falls, or other damaging incidents
• Certain knee deformities
• Revision of a previous knee replacement.

Arthrex claimed the iBalance TKA matched the total curvature of the knee to allow for maximum bending.

The device contains several components, including the tibial tray. Also called the baseplate, the tibial tray replaces the top of the shinbone, or tibia.

Arthrex iBalance TKA Defective Design Lead to Recall

In December 2015, Arthrex initiated a voluntary recall of 2,378 of its iBalance TKA knee replacement devices due to a defect in the tibial tray. And in February 2016, Arthrex sent urgent recall letters to surgeons, medical centers, and distributors of the devices telling them to stop using the implants and to return any that had not been used.

Arthrex indicated that the issue with the tibial tray was that its metal surface was smooth, unlike previous baseplates, which had a textured surface. It is believed this smoothness caused bonding problems and loosening issues, leading to failed outcomes and the need for revision surgery.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database contains reports describing patients requiring revision surgery because of tibial loosening. These reports indicated poor bonding between the metal implant and knee caused the issues.

Arthrex iBalance TKA Failures

Knee replacements should last for many years. But a failed or loosened baseplate causes the implant to need replacing years before it would be expected. Failed implants are very painful at best and can completely incapacitate the patient at worst.

Signs that a knee replacement has failed include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Loss of or reduced ability to bend the knee
• Instability
• Inability to walk

While a certain amount of pain and swelling are expected immediately following surgery, if the pain lasts longer than expected or if it recurs after a time, it may be an indication that the replacement device has failed.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Knee Replacement Revision Surgery

Revision surgery is often more painful and more complicated than original knee replacement surgery. And the success rate of revision surgery is lower than that of initial knee replacement surgery. This is due in part to the fact that the bone is weaker once initial surgery has been performed. In addition, failed replacement surgeries may lead to falls that cause injuries and other complications.

Contact Us

If you received an Arthrex iBalance TKA and have been injured because of instability or have had or been told you need revision surgery, contact us to discuss filing an Arthrex iBalance knee lawsuit. Knee replacement surgeries should provide relief and a better quality of life, not pain and reduced quality of life. Those who suffer having received defective products deserve compensation for their pain and suffering and medical expenses and lost work.