Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris

The Alabama personal injury lawyers at Cory Watson are ready and willing to take your case to trial if the responsible parties won’t cooperate or offer you reasonable compensation for your grievances. We have a winning track record and believe there is no case too big or small when it involves fighting for the rights of injured people. 


No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services preformed by other lawyers. To the extent the State Bar rules require us to designate a principal office and/or single attorney responsible for this site, Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris, P.C., designates Hirlye R. "Ryan" Lutz, III as the attorney responsible for this site. He is located at 2131 Magnolia Avenue, Suite 200, Birmingham, Alabama 35205

Calaxo Screw Injuries – ACL Surgery

Stephen Hunt August 10th, 2009Subscribe to rss news feed

Calaxo Screw Injuries – ACL Surgery

I think it is safe to say that most of us, when given the option, would rather not have something permanently implanted in our bodies.  Medical device companies understand this preference and thus, have been increasing their exploration into the market of absorbable implants.  The premise behind most of these ‘absorbable’ products is that the device retains its physical characteristics long enough to serve its utility and then is absorbed by the body after a certain period of time.

Without getting into too much detail, most of these absorbable (or resorbable) implants are made from organic macromolecular compounds such as polyglycolic or polylactic acid, which are and absorbable by the body.   They also possess the chemical and physical properties necessary for internal fixation devices.

An example of one of these resorbable products is the CALAXO screw made by Smith and Nephew.  This screw is used in place of a titanium screw to secure a graft in ACL reconstruction.  The screw is resorbed by the body over the course of the next 12 months, and compounds within the screw stimulate the natural process of bone formation in its place. The new bone fills the tunnel where the surgeon originally placed the screw, and promotes the ossification of the graft.

Unfortunately, the Calaxo screw did not enjoy the success of some other resorbable implant devices.  Smith & Nephew Endoscopy initiated a voluntary recall of CALAXO Bioresorbable Interference Screws in August, 2007 after receiving reports of swelling at the site of the implant.  In most instances the swelling can be reduced by aspiration at the site of the swelling.  Unfortunately, if the symptoms are severe enough, further surgical procedures may be required.  The remaining screw fragments or any resulting bony growth may have to be removed surgically.  There is also the possibility that surgical grafting may be required or replacement hardware implanted.

If you’ve suffered from the use of a Calaxo screw in your ACL surgery, the Calaxo lawyers at Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris may be able to help you.  Call today to discuss your concerns. You may be eligible to recover compensation for your physical, emotional and financial losses.  Call toll free (800) 852-6299 or email  attorney Stephen Hunt: shunt@cwcd.com.