More than 650,000 people in the United States have knee replacement surgery each year. For most of the medical devices put in the knee, the expected lifespan of the device is approximately 20 years (as long as infection and accidents are avoided). In fact, most knee replacement surgeries have a less than 2% failure rate.  However, the popular Attune Knee System has been shown to have a high premature failure rate causing patients to require repeat knee surgeries.

WHAT THEY KNEW

Attune Knee Systems are made by DePuy Synthes, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, and were  introduced to the worldwide market in 2011. The Attune Knee System is comprised of the following components: Attune Gradius Curve, Attune Rotating Platform Knee, and the Anatomic Patella. The problem with this popular knee replacement product is with the bonding system; parts have been reported to come loose and patients have been required to have further knee surgeries to replace the defective pieces. Many times these revision surgeries are more painful and difficult due to scar tissue and tissue damage.

WHEN THEY KNEW IT

By 2013, problems started being reported about this defective medical device. According to The Journal of Knee Surgery, early on doctors began noticing that the devices were becoming unglued from tibial bone attachments. In certain cases, it was reported that the device never bonded to the bone at all! Furthermore, 10-20% patients have stated that they were not completely satisfied with this newer procedure. Unfortunately, even with these reports to the FDA, Johnson & Johnson failed to warn patients about this flaw in their product.

If you were one of the 650,000 patients who had an Attune Knee System surgery, here are some signs to look for if you suspect that your medical device has come loose:

• Constant and consistent pain
• Limited range of motion
• Swelling and inflammation
• Awkward range of motion in the knee including if the knee moves sideways or backwards
• Loss of stability (such as trouble walking down stairs)

If you had an Attune Knee System surgery after 2013 and your device became loose causing you to undergo an additional surgery, call Periscope Group today. Johnson & Johnson knew early on that their device was problematic and yet the FDA didn’t recall this product until July 2015. Tens of thousands of people were given this device and many are reporting problems to the FDA. You may be eligible for compensation to help pay for your medical bills and time off work. Contact us today. We want to hear your story.

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