Knee Implant Failure

Unlike experiencing one trauma which causes serious damage to an implant, knee implants tend to fail over time due to wear and tear. This usually stems from a wearing of the plastic spacers located between the metal components and bones. One sign in particular of problems comes from warmth in the knee, which should disappear over time. If there is still a warm sensation in the knee after awhile, there are likely problems, especially if the knee turns red and is inflamed and/or sensitive to touch.

Another serious indicator is swelling, caused by inflammation. Inflammation of the knee lining, or synovium, causes fluid production. Once the fluid cannot be absorbed as fast as it accumulates, swelling occurs. The plastic shavings caused by wearing down of the plastic spacers may also result in irritation and a dissolving of implant-to-bone interfaces, or osteolysis, leading to knee loosening. Knee loosening worsens when surrounding ligaments become inflamed, causing patients to fear their knee will “give out.” Unnatural motions such as backwards movement or side motion may cause someone to fall or stumble.

A primary symptom of knee failure is pain. Plastic pieces may become trapped in the knee’s moving components, causing discomfort for the patient such as soreness or acute pain depending on the motion, or constant throbbing. As a knee recall lawyer, I recommend having necessary tests given to determine if the knee implant has failed and addressed immediately. Having your case evaluated will also help protect your legal rights, should you need protection in the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee lawsuit.