Late last week, civil litigation law firm Pope McGlamry filed a federal suit in Arkansas against Exactech alleging a hip replacement implant was defective because it contained a polyethylene liner that is prone to a high early failure rate from wear. This can cause severe bone degeneration (secondary osteolysis).
 
Exactech’s Connexion GXL liner is composed of irradiated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Exactech claimed the liners had less wear and were more durable than competitors’ polyethylene liners. However, the company recalled the Connexion GXL acetabular liner in July 2021 after the medical community raised concerns about the high early failure rate and severe bone degeneration.
 
Pope McGlamry’s client underwent the total hip replacement surgery in 2013 with Exactech products, including a Novation Crown Cup Connexion GXL liner. Less than eight years after implant the plaintiff experienced pain and severe osteolysis, requiring revision surgery. The plaintiff accused Exactech of failing to warn doctors and patients about the implant’s unreasonable harm risk.
 
Exactech was also accused of misrepresentations about a 59 percent lower wear rate for the liner, stating it had “enhanced polyethylene” with a lower wear rate.
 
Further, according to Pope McGlamry the company recalled some knee and ankle implants with polyethylene liners with similar issues on February 7.
 
The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Wilson et al. v. Exactech, Inc., Case No. 4:22-CV-136-BRW.