Lawsuits may be filed by people who were injured by defective ankle replacements that broke, fractured, caused severe pain, or needed another surgery.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting ankle replacement induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by a Stryker STAR Ankle Replacement, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Class Action Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: Exactech Vantage Ankle Replacements Recalled
In February 2022, Exactech recalled about 1,561 Exactech Vantage® ankle replacements that were sold since 2016.
The ankle replacements can wear out quickly, crack or break, fail prematurely, and require corrective surgery, according to Exactech.
The problem is linked to defective vacuum-sealed bags that allowed oxygen to damage a plastic insert that is used in the implant.
“Over time, oxidation can severely degrade the mechanical properties of [the implant], which, in conjunction with other surgical factors, can lead to both accelerated wear debris production and bone loss, and/or component fatigue cracking/fracture, all leading to corrective revision surgery.”
What is an Ankle Replacement?
Ankle replacement surgery is an option for treating people with arthritis in their ankle joint. Arthritis occurs when the soft cartilage wears away, leaving bone-on-bone in the joint. The bones grind together and cause severe pain and inflammation, which progressively worsens over time, often leaving people with severely limited mobility.
Ankle Replacement Surgery
When people with arthritis undergo a total ankle replacement, an orthopedic surgeon will completely remove their diseased ankle joint and replace it with an artificial (or “prosthetic”) joint. The artificial ankle implant might be made of metal, plastic, ceramic, or other materials.
What is the Problem?
The STAR Ankle Replacement is linked to high rates of fracture, which may occur in as little as 3 to 4 years, according to an FDA Safety Communication in March 2021. Patients may need another surgery to fix or replace their defective STAR Ankle Replacement if the plastic component breaks.
What is the STAR Ankle Replacement?
The Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (“STAR Ankle Replacement”) is manufactured by Stryker. Since it was approved in the U.S. in 2009, more than 300 patients have suffered from a fractured plastic component in their STAR Ankle.
STAR Ankle Replacement Lawsuits
You may be eligible to file a STAR Ankle Replacement Lawsuit if your implant broke, fractured, failed prematurely, or caused significant pain and required another surgery.
Unfortunately, safety studies have found that a plastic component in the STAR Ankle Replacement can fracture as early as 3-4 years after the device is implanted. In one study of 87 patients, 13.8% of patients needed another surgery when their STAR Ankle broke within 8 years.
Can I Join a Class Action?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is nationally recognized as a class action law firm, but our lawyers are not filing a STAR Ankle Replacement class action lawsuit at this time. Instead, we are filing individual lawsuits.
About Class Actions
Class actions are beneficial when a large group of people need to seek compensation for a similar legal claim. Everyone joins the same lawsuit, and if compensation is awarded, everyone shares the payout.
Why Our Law Firm is Filing Individual Lawsuits as Opposed to a Class Action
Defective ankle replacements can cause devastating health problems, such as chronic pain and limited mobility. In many cases, people who are implanted with bad devices require another ankle replacement surgery to repair the device, or remove it and implant a new device.
If you were injured by a defective STAR Ankle Replacement, our law firm may be able to help you file a lawsuit and seek financial compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, permanent injuries, lost income, decreased quality of life, and more.
Do I have an Ankle Replacement Class Action Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting ankle replacement induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by a Stryker STAR Ankle Replacement, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Class Action Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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