Did Your Cartiva Toe Implant Fail? You May Have a Legal Claim.
If you received a Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implant (SCI) and later experienced persistent pain, implant failure, loosening, displacement, nerve damage, or the need for another surgery, you may have grounds to pursue a Cartiva implant lawsuit.
In 2024, Cartiva, Inc. initiated a recall of all Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implants distributed in the United States from July 2016 through October 2024. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), patients implanted with the device may experience higher-than-expected rates of complications including revision surgery, implant removal, subsidence, displacement, pain, nerve damage, and fragmentation.
For patients who believed the Cartiva implant would relieve their big toe arthritis while preserving movement, discovering that the device may have failed can be particularly frustrating, especially when that failure leads to another painful surgery.
Product liability attorney Jami S. Oliver and the Oliver Law Office are investigating potential Cartiva implant claims for patients in Ohio and throughout the US.
If you believe your Cartiva implant failed, contact Oliver Law Office for a free case evaluation.
The Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implant is a small synthetic implant designed to treat painful arthritis in the joint at the base of the big toe.
The FDA approved Cartiva SCI in 2016 for patients with painful degenerative or post-traumatic arthritis (often called hallux rigidus or hallux limitus )in the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint.
The device is made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a hydrogel material intended to function similarly to cartilage. The implant is inserted into the metatarsal head to create a cushioning surface within the damaged joint.
For some patients, one of the attractions of Cartiva was the possibility of maintaining movement in the big toe rather than undergoing arthrodesis, commonly known as joint fusion.
But some patients subsequently reported continued or worsening pain, implant loosening or subsidence, difficulty walking, and the need for additional surgery.
Yes.
Cartiva, Inc. initiated a recall on October 31, 2024, and the FDA subsequently classified it as a Class II medical device recall.
The recall includes Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implants in all four sizes:
The recall covers all lots distributed between July 2016 and October 2024.
According to the FDA recall notice, the manufacturer reported a higher-than-expected occurrence rate of several hazards among patients who received the implant, including:
For someone who received a Cartiva implant during this period, the recall does not automatically mean that they have a lawsuit. However, patients who suffered injuries or required additional treatment because of an allegedly failed implant should consider having their individual circumstances reviewed by an experienced defective medical device attorney.
Problems with a Cartiva implant can present differently from patient to patient.
Potential signs or complications may include:
The FDA’s original safety information for Cartiva also identified potential adverse effects including implant fracture, loosening, dislocation, dislodgement, subsidence, bone loss, osteonecrosis, progressive osteoarthritis, and the potential need for revision or conversion to arthrodesis.
If you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms after receiving a Cartiva implant, speak with your physician about your medical care. You can also speak with a product liability attorney separately about whether the circumstances surrounding your implant and injuries may support a legal claim.
Every case is different, but you may have a potential Cartiva claim if you:
You do not need to determine on your own whether your implant was defective or whether your situation meets all of the legal requirements for filing a claim.
Oliver Law Office can investigate your medical and surgical history, determine what Cartiva device you received, review your subsequent treatment, and evaluate whether you may have a claim.
People who have filed Cartiva lawsuits have made product liability allegations involving premature implant failure and complications such as loosening, shrinkage, persistent pain, and the need for additional surgery.
Depending on the individual lawsuit and applicable state law, claims may involve allegations concerning the device’s design, warnings, manufacturing, marketing, or information provided about its risks and performance.
These are allegations made by plaintiffs in litigation. Filing a lawsuit does not establish that a manufacturer or other defendant is legally responsible for an individual’s injuries.
Federal Cartiva lawsuits have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) rather than a traditional class action.
In February 2026, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered federal Cartiva product liability cases transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas for coordinated pretrial proceedings.
The litigation is known as:
In re: Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3172
An MDL is different from a class action. Generally, people pursuing claims in an MDL retain their own individual lawsuits, while cases involving common factual issues are coordinated before one federal judge for certain pretrial proceedings.
The creation of the Cartiva MDL does not mean that every person with a Cartiva implant automatically qualifies for compensation. Each potential claim must still be evaluated individually.
The damages available depend on the facts of the case, the injuries involved, and applicable law.
A Cartiva implant claim could potentially seek compensation for losses such as:
There is currently no guaranteed settlement amount for a Cartiva claim. Any potential recovery depends on the facts and outcome of the individual case.
Possibly.
Removal or revision surgery can be important evidence in a defective medical device case, but the fact that your implant remains in place does not necessarily determine whether you have a viable claim.
For example, a patient may still be experiencing significant pain, mobility problems, implant subsidence or displacement, or may have been advised that future surgery is necessary.
An attorney can review your medical records and individual circumstances to determine whether you may have a claim.
Your health comes first. If you are experiencing pain or other problems involving your toe or foot, discuss those symptoms with an appropriate medical provider.
From a legal standpoint, it can also be helpful to preserve information concerning your implant and treatment, including:
Don’t worry if you don’t have all of this information. An attorney can help determine what records may be important to evaluating your case.
A Cartiva case isn’t simply a foot-injury claim. It is a product liability case involving a medical device, which can require investigation of the product itself, FDA records, medical evidence, expert testimony, corporate defendants, and complex federal litigation.
That is an area in which attorney Jami S. Oliver has significant experience.
Jami founded Oliver Law Office in 2000 and has spent decades representing people who have been injured or wronged by the negligence of others. Her product liability practice includes cases involving defective products and defective medical devices.
Jami was recognized by Best Lawyers in America for her work in Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, along with recognition in multiple practice areas.
Oliver Law Office represents clients throughout Ohio and has experience with complex defective-product litigation, including defective medical devices, recalled drugs, IVC filters, surgical staplers, and hernia mesh.
Most importantly, clients aren’t treated like another file in a mass-tort inventory.
Oliver Law Office emphasizes individualized representation, communication, and understanding how an injury has affected the particular person and family behind the claim.
When you’re dealing with a failed medical device and potentially another surgery, you deserve an attorney who will take the time to understand what happened to you.
Is Cartiva still on the market?
Cartiva, Inc. initiated a recall in October 2024 covering all Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implants distributed in the United States from July 2016 through October 2024. The FDA classified the action as a Class II recall.
Does the Cartiva recall mean I automatically have a lawsuit?
No. A recall by itself does not establish that a particular patient’s implant was defective or that the patient is entitled to compensation. An attorney must evaluate the circumstances surrounding the implant, complications, injuries, and applicable law.
What if I don’t know whether my surgeon used Cartiva?
You may be able to determine the type of implant from your operative report or other medical records. If you’re unsure, Oliver Law Office can discuss what information may be needed to investigate your case.
What if my Cartiva surgery was several years ago?
You should still speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Legal claims are subject to filing deadlines, and determining which deadline applies can depend on several facts. Don’t assume that you have or don’t have a claim based solely on the date of your surgery.
Do I have to live in Ohio to contact Oliver Law Office?
No. Oliver Law Office is evaluating Cartiva cases across the country.
How much does it cost to have my Cartiva case reviewed?
Oliver Law Office offers free injury case evaluations. The firm handles injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning attorney fees are collected only if there is a successful recovery.
Talk to a Cartiva Implant Lawyer
You underwent surgery because you wanted less pain and better mobility. If your Cartiva implant instead resulted in continued pain, difficulty walking, another operation, or a permanent fusion of your big toe, you deserve answers about what happened and what options may be available to you.
Attorney Jami S. Oliver and Oliver Law Office are evaluating potential Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implant claims for patients throughout Ohio and the United States.
Call 614-220-9100 or contact Oliver Law Office today for a free Cartiva implant case evaluation.
You don’t need to know whether you have a lawsuit before you call. That’s what the case evaluation is fo
