On February 7, 2022, Exactech, an orthopedic design company based in Florida, expanded its recall for knee and ankle medical devices. It also expanded its recall of the Connexion GXL Acetabular Liner, affecting close to 90,000 hip devices. Due to polyethylene (plastic) wear, these massive recalls stem from significantly higher revision rates and early failure due to polyethylene (plastic) wear. The Exactech implants showed a three to seven-fold increased failure rate versus other arthroplasty devices.
If you have a hip replacement device and are not sure whether you received the Exactech model, you may want to review the Florida doctors who’ve used this device. The information is posted on Exactech’s website-
Symptoms of medical complications resulting from Exactech Connexion GXL liner wear may include:
- Pain.
- Stiffness.
- Limited mobility.
- Loosening.
- Osteolysis — disappearance or degeneration of bone tissue.
- Revision surgery due to device failure.
Orthopedic surgeons at the University of Florida undertook a study of Exactech’s Acetabular Liner and found disturbing results. They conducted a study of revision surgery patients from 2009-19 who had Exactech’s hip device and demonstrated radiographic osteolysis around the liners. This means X-rays of their hips showed bone loss and destruction to the hip socket (acetabulum). The researchers expressed concern that the Exactech Connexion GXL liner could be prone to early failure. Patients included in this study were diagnosed with hip implant failure after having their original hip implant surgery, on average, less than five years earlier, “a timeframe that is uncommon in technically well-done” total hip replacement.
