Many patients report serious problems after receiving a Cartiva toe implant. Reports show that the device often fails earlier than expected. Some patients felt pain almost immediately after surgery. Others noticed a loss of movement in the toe within months.
Doctors have had to perform second surgeries to remove the failed implant. Many patient then required bone fusion or other procedures to fix the damage. These extra surgeries mean longer recovery time higher medical bill and lasting discomfort.
Lawsuits now claim the makers of Cartiva knew about these high failure rates. Attorneys argue that the companies had data showing major risk but continued marketing it as safe and effective. Patient say they were never warned about these dangers before agreeing to the implant.
What Is Cartiva?
Cartiva is a small medical implant designed to treat arthritis in the big toe. Surgeon place it inside the toe joint to reduce pain and help patient keep normal movement. It became popular as an alternative to traditional bone fusion surgery.
The FDA approved Cartiva after reviewing a clinical study. That study compared Cartiva implants to fusion surgery and reported good results. It claimed that fewer than 10 percent of patients needed another surgery within two years. Many doctors viewed it as a safe option for people who wanted to avoid losing toe flexibility.
Patients trusted these results when choosing the implant. They believed it would last longer and cause fewer complications than fusion. Later reports from clinics and patients began to challenge those early claims.
Why Are People Suing?
Patients and doctors now say real-world results do not match that study. Reports suggest failure rates are much higher than advertised.
The doctor who helped launch Cartiva no longer uses it. He warns patients not to get this implant due to frequent problems. Insurance company Cigna even calls Cartiva “experimental.”
Lawsuits claim that:
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The implant shrinks and moves out of place
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The material breaks down, causing pain and bone loss
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Companies misled patients and doctors about the risks
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Negative data was ignored to keep selling the product
Reported Cartiva Problems
Many patients have experienced serious issues after getting Cartiva. Common problems include:
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Pain and irritation at the implant site
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Loss of toe movement
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Nerve damage
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Infection or implant fracture
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Extra bone growth or cyst
Patient often need another surgery to remove the implant. Doctor may also need to fuse the joint or remove bone spurs to relieve pain.
No Recall but Ongoing Concern
Cartiva has not been recalled despite thousand of reported problem. Patients and doctor continue to raise alarms about the device’s safety. Many experts believe a recall should have happened years ago.
Attorneys say the companies behind Cartiva chose profits over patient safety. They claim the manufacturer had internal data showing the implant failed more often than advertised. Instead of stopping sale the companies allegedly ignored these finding and kept marketing it as a proven solution.
Some surgeon stopped using Cartiva after seeing repeated failure in their own clinics. Insurance provider also began questioning it safety and effectiveness. Despite these warning the implant remain available in the market today.
Are These Class Actions?
Cartiva lawsuits are not class actions. Each case is handled on it own because the injuries are serious and unique. Patient often need multiple surgeries face long recoveries and deal with high medical expenses.
Class action usually involve a large group of people who suffered small similar losses. Cartiva cases do not fit that model. Every patient’s experience is different. Some deal with implant fracture others with bone loss or severe nerve damage.
Lawyer believe individual lawsuit give patients a better chance to recover fair compensation. This approach allows attorneys to focus on each person specific medical history, surgeries and long term impact.
How to Start a Cartiva Lawsuit
You may have a claim if your implant failed and you needed another surgery. A lawyer can help by:
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Reviewing your medical record
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Asking how the implant affected your life
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Writing a legal complaint that explains your injuries and losses
Common claims include:
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Selling a defective medical device
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Failing to warn about known risks
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Misleading marketing about safety and success rates
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Violating federal safety rules
Lawsuit Process
After you file a lawsuit the case enter the court system. Your lawyer begin gathering evidence to prove the implant caused your injuries. This evidence can include medical record surgical report and expert opinion from doctor who understand Cartiva failures.
Lawyer from both sides question witnesses and take sworn statements called deposition. Financial and medical expert may testify about your medical bill and long term care need. These step help build a strong case before it reaches trial.
Court may decide to combine many Cartiva lawsuit into a federal proceeding known as multidistrict litigation. This process lets one judge oversee similar cases. It speeds up the exchange of information and ensures consistent rulings for all patients involved.
Possible Compensation
Successful cases may pay for:
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Past and future medical treatment
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Physical and emotional suffering
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Lost income
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Reduced ability to enjoy life
Settlement amounts are unknown. Payments depend on the severity of injury and cost of ongoing care.
Cost to Hire a Lawyer
Most Cartiva attorneys work on contingency. You pay nothing upfront. The lawyer only take a share if they win your case or secure a settlement.
What to Do Next
You should reach out to a qualified lawyer if you had a failed Cartiva implant. Many law firm handle these case and offer free consultation. During the first call or meeting you can share your medical history describe the pain you experienced and explain any surgeries you needed to correct the implant failure.
A consultation does not commit you to a lawsuit. It is only a step to understand your legal rights. A lawyer will review your medical record and tell you if you have a valid claim. They can explain how much compensation you may recover and what step to take next.
Taking action early is important. State have strict deadline known as statutes of limitation that limit the time you have to file. Missing these deadline can prevent you from pursuing a claim even if you suffered severe harm.
Lawyers handling Cartiva cases usually work on contingency. This mean you do not pay anything upfront. You only pay if your lawyer win your case or negotiates a settlement. This make it easier for patient to seek justice without worrying about high legal fee.
If you suspect your implant failed or your doctor recommend a second surgery you should act now. Speaking to a lawyer ensure you have the right guidance before making any decision about treatment or legal action.
Final Thought
Cartiva lawsuit highlight the danger of defective medical implant. Many injured patients believe the companies behind Cartiva knew the device failed too often but chose not to warn doctor or patients. These failures have left people in pain unable to walk normally and facing more surgeries to fix the damage.
Legal action give affected patient a way to recover medical cost and other losses. A successful lawsuit can also hold the manufacturer accountable for placing a risky device on the market.
You do not have to face this alone. Speaking to an experienced lawyer help you understand your option and protects your right. If your Cartiva implant failed now is the time to take action and seek justice.
