EXACTECH GXL HIP RECALL AT NY HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY
NY Hospital for Special Surgery Sends Recall Letters to Exactech Hip Replacement Patients
The Hospital for Special Surgery sent out letters to current and former patients warning them about a recall on their Exactech Connexion GXL hip replacements. The letter explains that the implant’s plastic has a defect that could cause it to wear out earlier than expected.
If you received one of these letters from HSS, you should contact mctlaw immediately to preserve evidence and protect your rights.
WARNING ABOUT CONTACTING EXACTECH FOR OUT OF POCKET COSTS
The letter you receive from HSS may ask you to contact the Exactech Broadspire Helpline. Any information you give them could hurt your case if you choose to file a claim. You could be signing your rights away.
Contact the lawyers at mctlaw first if you received a recall letter from Hospital for Special Surgery.
We can request your medical on your behalf and review them to see if you have a claim. And we do this at no cost and no obligation to you.
Received a Warning Letter from HSS?
Contact us now about your Exactech Hip Replacement.
We can help you preserve evidence and protect your rights.
What is Wrong with the Exactech Connexion GXL Hip Replacements?
Your Exactech Connection GXL hip replacement could wear out prematurely. The Food and Drug Administration issued a Class 2 device recall for these hip replacements. The FDA reports there are a total of 89,950 hip replacements that may be implanted in patients.
The specific Connexion GXL polyethylene liners recalled are used in the following hip replacement systems:
- Acumatch GXL
- Novation GXL
- MCS Hip System
The liners can last more than 25 years, but research shows they could be wearing out much earlier. This can lead to severe complications like osteolysis, which causes bone loss, component loosening, tissue, and muscle damage.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE AN EXACTECH GXL HIP IMPLANT?
Exactech recommends patients who were implanted with a GXL Polyethylene Acetabular Liner in the past 6 years and haven’t seen their surgeon in at least a year, should see their doctor now. Even if you’re not experiencing symptoms, it is important to have routine exams done to monitor your situation.
Exactech worked closely with the Hospital for Special Surgery to research and develop knee replacements.
Exactech and HSS have a decades-long partnership working to engineer, design, and research joint replacements like the Vantage knee.
In 2009 Exactech and HSS issued press releases announcing the continuation of their partnership to develop the Vantage line of implants.
In 2021 Exactech issued a Class II FDA recall on the plastic tibial insert on their Vantage ankle replacements. That same year, Exactech recalled the Connexion Hip and Optetrak and Truliant Knee replacements.
THE DIFFERENCE IN EXACTECH’S PLASTIC HIP IMPLANTS
THE PLASTIC USED IN ACETABULAR LINERS
Materials used in hip replacements took leaps in technology since the 1990s and 2000s. The plastic of choice in acetabular hip liners is now cross-linked polyethylene. Cross-linked plastic is hit with gamma or electron beam irradiation that makes the plastic harder, stronger, and reduces wear of the hip implant. Vitamin E was added to the material in the mid-2000s, which further improved hip liner longevity. (Source: Current Orthopaedic Practice )
Exactech claimed that their Connection GXL hip liner was “enhanced,” had longer wear, and was more durable, but Exactech’s GXL hip implant is wearing down early. According to a study published in Arthroplasty Today, patients with the Connection GXL hip had severe plastic wear and osteolysis happen only 5 years after initial surgery. (Source: Early failure of a modern moderately cross-linked polyethylene acetabular liner)
Other Exactech Recalls:
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