Articles Posted in Stryker Knee

When we go to the doctor for a major surgical procedure such as a total knee replacement, we assume our doctor will use the latest devices and techniques. However, we also assume any equipment used will have been subject to clinical trials and approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Unfortunately, according to a recent news article from the New York Times, things don’t always work out so well. One patient interviewed for a story was scheduled to undergo a total knee replacement procedure.

When a surgeon performs a total knee replacement, he or she relies on a medical device known as a cutting guide. Much like a carpenter’s jig, a surgical cutting guide is placed on the bone to be cut so the surgeon knows where to apply his or her bone saw. Cuts must be made in the precision location to increase the chances of a proper fit and alignment. If alignment is off, even slightly, patients can have a longer recovery, increased pain, decreased range of movement, and in worst cases, the artificial knee may fail and become loose or dislodged.
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Even a completely successful knee replacement surgery procedure will involve a great deal of pain and suffering as the patient heals from his or her wound and builds up strength.

According to a recent news article from HCP Live, a new injectable medication administered during total knee replacement surgery may help alleviate much of the pain following surgery.

The new drug being studied is called liposomal bupivacaine, and is injected into tissue surrounding the knee during total knee replacement surgery. Researchers hope it will provide considerable relief from pain expected to follow surgery.

Researchers note pain from the injection is comparable to pain from knee replacement surgery and has been shown in studies to provide patients with up to two days of pain relief following surgery. These two days of pain relief have allowed patients to use their new knee sooner, which can greatly decrease recovery time.
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If you ever watch a documentary or reality show about military training, it seems like the men and women are being pushed to the limits of their physical ability. In reality, they are often being pushed far beyond what the human body was designed to do. This is evident in that military veterans over the age of 40 are more than twice as likely to need a total knee replacement as civilians of the same age.

The military calls this wear and tear on soldiers’ joints. One of the problems for soldiers is, after performing their jobs and suffering debilitating injury, they are often forced to leave the military due to a medical discharge. According to a recent feature from FOX News, many soldiers with knee troubles are now able to have a total knee replacement and remain on active duty.

With new knee replacement technology, military studies show over 85 percent of veterans who undergo total arthroplasty of the knee are able to return to active duty. Of those returning to active duty after having a total knee replacement, nearly two-thirds of them were able to be deployed to a combat zone and complete full tours of duty.
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According to a recent news article from NJ.com, the president and founder of OtisMed Corp. recently admitted to shipping hundreds of artificial knee products without FDA approval and pleaded guilty to criminal charges.

Authorities are reporting defendant pleaded to guilty to three misdemeanor fraud counts related to a shipment of over 200 artificial knee devices to surgeons throughout the United States with full knowledge the United States Food and Drug Administration had not approved them. Prosecutors stated defendant will be sentenced in March of 2015 and faces up to three years in prison.

OtisMed, which has since been acquired by Stryker Corporation, plead guilty to felony charge of distributing an adulterated medical device into interstate commerce and must pay approximately $40 million in fines and restitution. The company will also be required to pay an additional $41.2 million in civil settlements related to false claims litigation.
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A new article from the New York Times suggests that patients should be careful before agreeing to undergo total knee replacement. Patients who suffer from sore knees and have trouble getting around may give in too quickly to the temptations of having an artificial knee implanted.

The device manufacturers have created a series of computer animations and physical models to show how a new knee will change everything. After a quick operation and somewhat longer recovery, the patient is told he or she will feel years younger and be able to do all of the activities possible before having any knee trouble.
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Americans love a good deal. Whether buying a car or going to a fast food restaurant, we constantly see advertisements that purport an offer of more for less money. One surgical center is offering a total knee and a total hip replacement surgery bundle to patients.

According to a recent article in the Charlotte Observer, hospital officials, who say they are trying to focus healthcare from volume to value, believe that patients will benefit from the new bundled approach to joint replacement surgery.

A patient can receive both a hip and knee replacement with a single bill that will cover preoperative visits, surgery, three months of physical therapy, and a “navigator” to guide the patient through the process. Hospital administrators see this as a future of healthcare in the United States.
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According to a recent news article from My Northwest, some hospitals are now offering warranties to patients who undergo total knee replacement surgery.

As the article discussed, and Boston knee replacement attorneys are aware, many hospitals make more from procedures that go wrong than those done without incident. The hospital, doctors, and medical device manufacturers make money every time a procedure is performed. If the artificial knee needs to be removed and replaced, the cost of that second surgery and all related diagnostic procedures are typically charged to the patient.

Hospital administrators are claiming that they are able to offer this warranty because are they are confident in the work provided by their practitioners, and they also hope that the program will alleviate concerns from many prospective patients who are considering whether or not to have the surgery.
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According to recent article in the Boston Business Journal, a technological innovation will allow partial and total knee replacement surgeries to be performed by a robotic arm. The company claims that this robotic arm sets them apart form companies such as Stryker, DePuy, and Zimmer. As your Boston knee replacement lawyer can explain, there have been many products liability lawsuits filed against the makers of these knees for issues involving defective design and a failure to adequately warn patients of known dangers.

The robotic arm is intended to be used by surgeons to allow for a more precise alignment of the artificial knee components. This company is claiming that proper alignment is the difference between success and failure in a knee replacement procedure.

The new device uses a 3D image of the knee and uses the image to saw off the knee joint at the proper place and at the proper angle. Without the use of the new robotic arm, surgeons use a metal guide and attempt to come within a few degrees of perfect alignment. The company also claims that if alignment is not proper, it can lead to a total failure in the replacement knee, and the patient will require another operation and another artificial knee to replace the failed one. Surgeons typically get the alignment right 75 percent of the time, and this robotic arm is supposedly able to get an exact alignment over 90 percent of the time.
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Our Boston knee replacement attorneys understand that many patients are suffering substantial pain and loss of mobility after having a surgery.

And nobody warned them of the risks.

According to a recent article from Fox News, former President George W. Bush recently underwent partial knee replacement on his left knee. Mr. Bush is 68 years of age. This was his second knee surgery. The first surgery was performed three month ago and was a partial knee replacement on his right knee.

This partial knee replacement is in contrast to the more than 700,000 total knee replacements performed each year. As we have discussed in a previous blog entry, research suggests many total knee replacements are not medically necessary.

Any patient who undergoes a total knee replacement is exposed to serious side effects including loss of flexibility, pain, stiffness, rejection, and even death. The fact that many patients are suffering these side effects when they may not have needed a total knee replacement in the first place illustrates the risks of today’s medical system.
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Our Boston personal injury lawyers who represent patients with knee replacement-related injuries know that these matters can be confusing to patients who may already have been the victim of inappropriate medical advice.

A new report from CBS examines whether doctors are performing more knee replacements than are medically necessary. A recently released study in a peer-reviewed medical journal found that more than 33 percent of all knee replacement surgeries performed in the United States were not medically appropriate in terms of risks to patients versus medical benefit.
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