Cartiva Implant Failure Symptoms Reported By Big Toe Surgery Patients in Lawsuits, Social Media and FDA Adverse Events

The Cartiva implant has been marketed as an alternative to big toe fusion surgery, and promoted by the manufacturer as a revolutionary toe implant designed to provide pain relief for individuals suffering from degraded cartilage in the big toe joint. However, only a few years after the implant was introduced, patients began reporting Cartiva failure symptoms, including severe toe pain, loosening, fracture and subsidence, which occurs when the implant slips into the bone.

Individuals have shared their Cartiva implant experiences across a number of online forums and social media platforms in recent years, each outlining the debilitating and painful symptoms they endured from a Cartiva SCI (Synthetic Cartilage Implant). In addition, many are now filing Cartiva implant failure lawsuits against the device manufacturers, claiming a defective design makes the toe implant prone to fail and cause severe pain, often resulting in the need for additional surgery and long-term disability.

Despite grassroots attempts to raise awareness about the Cartiva implant failures for years, lawsuits indicate that the device maker withheld critical information about the risk from users and the medical community, including steps that could be taken to avoid permanent physical impairment.

In this featured post, AboutLawsuits.com will highlight some of the Cartiva implant failure symptoms that have been shared across various online forums and social media platforms in recent years, and the alarming consistency of complaints outlined in these stories.

Cartiva Implant Failures Reported to FDA

In recent years, a growing number of reports have surfaced through the FDA, highlighting Cartiva implant failures. These reports detail varied instances of malfunction and the subsequent pain and discomfort experienced by patients:

Cartiva Failures Reported Across Social Media

Online discussions have provided a deeper explanation of the problems and distress caused by Cartiva implant failure symptoms, as shared by affected individuals on social media platforms:

Cartiva Lawsuits Outline Failed Toe Implant Symptoms

In many of the Cartiva implant lawsuits filed against the medical device manufacturers, individuals have outlined a series of painful and debilitating Cartiva failure symptoms and side effects.

Kelly Peachey Lawsuit Over Cartiva Implant Failure

Kelly Peachey, a firefighter and emergency medical technician, filed a Cartiva implant lawsuit in August 2023, indicating that the device failed and caused her to experience painful deformity and bone loss in her big toe, which resulted in the need for an additional fusion surgery.

Post-implant, Peachey experienced significant dysfunction, including intense swelling and severe pain, directly attributed to the implant. By August 2021, it was determined that the implant had failed.

Subsequent surgical interventions included removing the failed device and fusing the bones in her toe, which greatly restricted its mobility. The surgery resulted in permanent deformity and bone loss, which she claims has led to an advanced progression of arthritis with another fusion surgery likely on the horizon.

Bryan Hughes Cartiva Failure Lawsuit

Bryan Hughes filed a Cartiva implant lawsuit in November 2023, after a failed Cartiva implant left him with severely limited movement of the toe, which has resulted in pain and stress on other joints.

In the complaint, Hughes reported suffering severe limitations in toe mobility, which necessitated adjustments in the function of adjacent joints and led to accelerated deterioration of other foot and leg components.

These issues forced Hughes to modify his footwear and significantly cut back on active pursuits. In February 2023, the failed implant was surgically removed, leading to substantial medical bills, loss of income, and ongoing needs for physical rehabilitation and monitoring. Hughes continues to suffer from pain and the financial and emotional toll of his ordeal.

Cartiva Implant Failure Symptoms

Cartiva implant failure can manifest through a variety of symptoms, which often mirror those of the original condition the implant was intended to alleviate.

Some of the most common Cartiva implant failure symptoms that have been reported include:

• Pain and Discomfort: The most frequently reported symptom of Cartiva implant failure is a resurgence of pain in the toe joint, often more severe than the pre-surgical condition. Patients may experience constant pain or pain that intensifies during joint movement.
• Swelling and Inflammation: Many patients report increased swelling around the implant site. This swelling can be accompanied by warmth and redness, indicating inflammation and potentially an infection.
• Reduced Mobility: A failing implant often leads to decreased joint mobility. Patients may struggle to bend the toe or perform weight-bearing activities like walking or running, which directly impacts daily functioning.
• Instability and Looseness: If the implant becomes loose or shifts from its original position, patients may experience a feeling of instability in the toe, which can be unsettling and painful.
• Fracture and Subsidence: There are cases where the implant itself fractures or subsides deeper into the bone, leading to more intense pain and structural damage within the joint.
• Bone Loss and Permanent Deformity: As seen in several lawsuits, failed implants can cause significant bone loss and permanent deformity of the toe, complicating future treatment options and often leading to disability.
• Grinding or Clicking Sounds: Some individuals report unusual sounds like grinding, popping, or clicking coming from the toe joint, which are typically associated with movements and can indicate that the implant is breaking down.
• Changes in Gait: Due to pain, instability or mobility restrictions, patients might alter their walking pattern. This adaptive change can lead to secondary issues such as pain in the ankles, knees or back due to altered biomechanics.

Contact a Cartiva Implant Failure Lawyer

Financial compensation may be available through a Cartiva implant failure lawsuit settlement for individuals who received a failed Cartiva implant and experienced any of the following complications:

• Implant Failure/Fracture
• Subsidence (implant sinks into the bone)
• Toe Fusion Surgery
• Replacement Surgery
• Revision Surgery

Cartiva implant lawyers are reviewing lawsuits on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are no fees or expenses paid unless a Cartiva settlement or lawsuit payout is received.