Cartiva Implant

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized all federal Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implant (SCI) lawsuits before one federal judge in Arkansas on February 5, 2026, rejecting manufacturer arguments that injury heterogeneity precluded consolidation. The MDL encompasses claims that Cartiva Inc. concealed defect data and delayed an October 2024 recall despite knowledge that the polyvinyl alcohol-based hydrogel implant carried failure rates substantially exceeding the 13.5% rate reported to FDA. Plaintiffs allege premature loosening, subsidence, and degradation frequently necessitated revision surgery and big-toe fusion.

The JPML consolidated all federal Cartiva SCI lawsuits on February 5, 2026, transferring them to the Eastern District of Arkansas under Judge Kristine G. Baker. The transfer order rejected Cartiva Inc.'s opposition, which argued that centralization would disrupt ongoing settlement negotiations. Prior to consolidation, Judge Irene Berger in the Southern District of West Virginia had scheduled the first bellwether trial for August 3, 2026, with mandatory mediation to conclude by June 22, 2026.

Approximately 2.2 million U.S. patients suffer hallux limitus/rigidus, the target indication. FDA approved 2016; Stryker recalled all models October 31, 2024 after admitting 'higher-than-expected' failure rates. Post-market data suggests failure rates up to 64% at four weeks, 79% at 19 months per 2020 study. Manufacturer received at least 144 adverse event reports before recall.

• Eastern District of Arkansas

  MDL consolidated February 5, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker. JPML transfer order rejected Cartiva's opposition, finding common questions on causation, FDA approval representations, and recall circumstances. Five actions and nine potential tag-alongs pending in seven districts at time of consolidation.

• Southern District of West Virginia

  Original MDL venue sought by plaintiffs; two filed cases here. U.S. District Judge Irene Berger scheduled trial February 9, 2026 in one West Virginia case with discovery cutoff August 22, 2025.

• District of Maryland

  Hyatt v. Cartiva Inc. et al. filed February 2026. Plaintiff alleges permanent big toe injuries, device loosening and degradation. One of three cases that had advanced beyond complaint filing at time of MDL petition.

• Eastern District of North Carolina

  Kiel v. Cartiva Inc. filed September 2025. Allegations of implant migration, removal, and subsequent big toe fusion. Claims design defect and failure to warn on shrinkage-induced failure mechanism.

• Northern District of Illinois

  Kwasny v. Cartiva Inc. filed March 2025. Indiana plaintiff; implant failed to relieve hallux rigidus pain, left patient in worse condition.

• Northern District of Texas

  Coleman v. Cartiva Inc. filed April 2024. Early-filed case alleging device failure requiring revision surgery.

• Pennsylvania

  Didonato v. Cartiva Inc. filed February 2025. Dual-implant recipient (2018, 2019); devices failed well short of promised 10-15 year lifespan. Additional Pennsylvania case filed September 2025 citing 64% failure rate at four weeks per November 2020 study.