Bone Cement Failures in Knee Replacements Could Harm Veterans

Hard physical work performed by members of our armed forces can take a serious toll on their knees. Whether directly attributable to their military duties or not, many veterans wind up requiring single or double knee replacements to relieve pain and restore mobility. Once the operation is completed, recipients expect years of relative comfort, but problems with the cement used to attach the devices to the patient’s bones have triggered harmful consequences.

When bone cement fails to hold, the prosthetic device can slip out of place and fragments of the adhesive substance might be released into the bloodstream. A wide range of harmful effects can result, including:

• Severe pain — A knee replacement is supposed to bond with the patient’s tibia bone. Using high viscosity cement presents a risk of aseptic loosening, by which the device breaks away from the tibia due to the cement’s poor bonding capacity. This can cause severe pain and other types of harm.
• Cardiac and respiratory problems — Bone cement implantation syndrome is a significant post-operative complication. This potentially fatal condition has been linked to cardiovascular problems and oxygen deficiency leading to loss of consciousness.
• Corrective surgery — No one looks forward to a second round of surgery, but the discomfort and danger caused by substandard bone cement sometimes justifies a corrective operation to protect the knee replacement recipient.

Whether you have been treated by a VA doctor or a private healthcare provider for your knee replacement, it’s important to remain aware of any potential complications following your surgery. Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban represents veterans and other clients in litigation stemming from defective medical substances and devices. We can handle cases against the manufacturers of faulty bone cement as well as VA disability benefit claims relating to knee replacements.

If you or a family member has experienced pain or some other unexpected medical problem after a knee replacement, please call 866-866-VETS or contact us online for a free consultation. We assist veterans nationwide.