A faulty knee replacement is the last thing you expect when you go into this kind of surgery. The fact that you need a knee replacement means you're already in so much pain. However, the unfortunate truth is that some artificial knee replacement joints don't serve their purpose. Instead, they add more misery to an already painful situation.
Every year, more than 700,000 knee surgeries are performed in the United States. Although some of these surgeries are successful, some are more harmful than helpful. This explains why many knee replacement manufacturers face lawsuits for various injuries caused by their products.
When it comes to filing such a lawsuit, or any other for that matter, it's important to have an experienced attorney fighting for your rights. We'll discuss that in detail shortly. For now, let's look at common problems caused by faulty knee implants.
Knee implants sometimes become loose due to various reasons, such as high-impact activities, bone deterioration, or wear and tear. In some cases, the bond between the cement and implant may fail, leading to the loosening of the implant. When that happens, you'll most likely experience serious knee pain.
There's also the risk of infections, especially after knee replacement surgery. The infection might occur right after the surgery or later. These infections are usually known as peri-prosthetic joint infections, or simply PJI. Individuals with this kind of knee infection often require revision surgery.
Periprosthetic fractures can also occur after knee replacement surgery. These fractures are usually caused by high impact or pressure exerted on the knee, especially during a fall or any other kind of trauma.
In some cases, knee implants become unstable, especially due to damaged ligaments. In addition, they can become unstable when there's a mismatch between the soft tissue tensioning when the knee is fully straight or bent. Unstable knee implants can lead to unexpected falls due to a lack of proper balance and support while walking or standing.
Some individuals with knee implants also suffer from arthrofibrosis, a condition caused by scar tissue build-up around the knee joint. When that happens, their knees become stiff, limiting their range of motion as a result.