Consensus Knee Replacement Lawsuit Filed Over Implant Failure

According to allegations raised in a recently filed product liability lawsuit, design problems with the Consensus Total Knee System makes the implant prone to fail, which may result in the need for revision surgery after just a couple of years.

The complaint (PDF) was filed last month by Robert Best in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, indicating that Consensus Orthopedics, Inc. and up to 10 unidentified John Does, who may have been involved in the design, manufacture, sale, supply, distribution and marketing of the implants, provided an unreasonably dangerous and defective knee replacement system.

Best indicates that he underwent a right total knee replacement in March 2014, at which time the Consensus Total Knee System Replacement prosthesis was implanted in his body. Although a knee replacement is typically expected to last about two decades, only three years later the Consensus knee failed, according to the lawsuit,

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Knee Replacement Lawsuits

Design problems with several types of knee implants have resulted in lawsuits for individuals who experienced painful complications.

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On September 19, 2017, x-rays of Best’s right knee showed that the polyethylene insert component of the Consensus implant had failed, resulting in the component becoming dislodged from the tibial tray, according to the lawsuit. As a result of the knee replacement problems, Best underwent revision surgery to have the implant removed in February 2018.

“Consensus Total Knee System Replacements and its components were defectively designed in that the polyethylene tibial insert would dislodge from the tibial tray causing dangerous instability, injury, and pain,” the lawsuit states. “Additionally, the Consensus Total Knee System Replacements and its components were defectively manufactured in such a manner as to cause the tibial insert to bend, move, slip, and/or break.”

Best presents claims of strict product liability, negligence, gross negligence, and breach of warranty. He seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.

The lawsuit is one of the first over the Consensus Total Knee System. However, similar product liability claim shave been brought against the manufacturers of other knee systems introduced in recent years that featured design defects, including the DePuy Attune knee replacement, which has also been linked to tibial tray failures.

When the knee replacement loosens and fails, it can cause pain and wear away the bone. This can lead to restricted physical movement and severe pain, which continues until the pain becomes unbearable, or the device fails, resulting in a loss of knee function.

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11 Comments

  • DonaldAugust 9, 2022 at 12:48 pm

    My right knee replacement which was done November 2020 has never stop hurting me.Do anyone know a good lawyer in Houston Texas.

  • AnnaMay 30, 2022 at 4:45 pm

    I had surgery 3 years ago total knee replacement on my left knee. Months after going for my check up (March) my knee had broken and was falling over to the side. I was given a special brace which I wore for months till I couldn't stand the pain any longer. I decided to have them replace the broke parts. Surgery number 2 during the same year. So for the last 2 years my knee i in constant pain.[Show More]I had surgery 3 years ago total knee replacement on my left knee. Months after going for my check up (March) my knee had broken and was falling over to the side. I was given a special brace which I wore for months till I couldn't stand the pain any longer. I decided to have them replace the broke parts. Surgery number 2 during the same year. So for the last 2 years my knee i in constant pain. They have done x-rays and they say the replacement is in place. Now in February of 2022 I woke up in the morning and could not walk. I had a fever and for 3 days was immobile. Again this weekend of Memorial Day 2022 I woke up again and I am sitting here in pain unable to walk. The pain is terrible and tylenol are not working. What do I do? This has been a nightmare.

  • MyrtleMay 27, 2022 at 6:34 am

    I had knee replacement on 12042018. Right knee still hurt,swell and grind. I am too scared to get another sugery. Been complainting to my ortho dr each month.

  • DavidApril 2, 2022 at 7:46 am

    Had both knees replaced with CONSENSUS implants. One Oct 2018 the other March 2019 . Immediately the one replaced in 2018 (left) began to make a grinding noise and l was diagnosed as having crepitus. I finally had surgery in June 2020 to clean out the joint but it still grinds and swells and is painful. The right replacement has always had a small amount of the grinding noise and it continues to [Show More]Had both knees replaced with CONSENSUS implants. One Oct 2018 the other March 2019 . Immediately the one replaced in 2018 (left) began to make a grinding noise and l was diagnosed as having crepitus. I finally had surgery in June 2020 to clean out the joint but it still grinds and swells and is painful. The right replacement has always had a small amount of the grinding noise and it continues to get worse, hangs up on occasion and is extremely painful when it pops back into place. I've had x-rays of both and they appear to be stable where they are cemented in. The problem has to be the cushion portion of the prostetic. I have not consider having them replaced. I just endure the constant swelling and pain.

  • Mary BethMarch 21, 2022 at 9:09 am

    I had bilateral knee replacements May 2014. I have not had a pain-free day since. I have had a bone scan that showed loosening of my consensus knee implants.

  • Mary BethOctober 5, 2021 at 3:26 pm

    I had a double knee replacement surgery on 5/9/14. I have never had a good day since. I had a scan in 2020 after extreme pain, which revealed loosening of my Consensus knees.

  • jodyMarch 18, 2020 at 2:49 pm

    Had TKR December 2018 4 months after started have pain and swelling. Finally got a ct scan found tibial loosening need to have a revision surgery to fix.

  • JamesMarch 12, 2020 at 4:16 pm

    Had knee replacement June 2019. Caught staff infection around knee.. Back in the hospital for a week. January 2020 back in the hospital with fluid and stitches removed that had made a sore from first surgery. Consensus was the name of the replacement they put in me. I’m hurting worse now than I ever have!!!!!!

  • JimCDecember 18, 2019 at 2:12 pm

    you need to investigate Consensus device cleaning, packaging and sterilization

  • stanleySeptember 6, 2019 at 11:52 am

    my wife has a similar problem , but with the consensus bi polar hip two weeks after the replacement surgery ,while still in the hospital, the unit broke . a second bi polar hip was put in and it broke within a couple months requiring my wife to be confined to the bed until she was able to have another surgery, it has been one year and four surgeries she is now walking with great difficulty

  • ShavonJuly 23, 2019 at 3:11 pm

    I have the same problem. My knee replacement that was done in 2016 is loose now. I am actually walking around in pain because this is the 2nd time that it became loose. I had a revision already on this same knee.

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