What happened with the Cartiva implant
The Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implant was marketed as a better alternative to big toe fusion surgery. The device, a polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel made by Cartiva Inc. (acquired by Stryker), was supposed to preserve joint motion for patients with hallux rigidus.
In real world use, the implant failed at rates far higher than advertised. Patients experienced persistent pain, implant loosening, subsidence into the bone, and migration. Many required revision surgery within a few years. Most revision cases ended in the very fusion procedure the implant was supposed to prevent.
In October 2024, Stryker issued a Class II recall of the Cartiva implant. In February 2026, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated all federal cases into MDL 3172, before Judge Kristine G. Baker in the Eastern District of Arkansas.
You may have a claim if
- You received a Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implant for big toe arthritis
- You experienced persistent pain, stiffness, or instability after surgery
- The implant loosened, shifted, or sunk into the bone
- You needed a second surgery (revision)
- You were forced into big toe fusion after the Cartiva failed
- The implant was removed for any reason
Compensation may cover
- Medical bills for revision or fusion surgery
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The federal MDL has not produced a global settlement yet. Some individual cases have reportedly settled. Each case value depends on the severity of injury, medical history, and other factors.
Why work with the Baker Legal Team
- Mass tort and federal MDL experience
- No fees unless we win your case
- Free, confidential case review
- We work on contingency. You pay nothing up front.
- Patients across all 50 states represented