High Hip Replacement Failure Rate Linked to Manufacturer

The recent Zimmer Durom Cup issues were first noticed by prominent orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Larry Dorr, in 2007. He identified a high rate of problems with the Zimmer Durom Cup, where his patients were experiencing excruciating pain after their hip replacement which was being caused by the artificial hip socket separating from the bone, instead of fusing with it. After his concerns were dismissed by Zimmer, he published an open letter to his colleges in April 2008, which eventually led Zimmer to investigate the Durom Cup problems. While Zimmer’s own estimates in 2008 suggested that some doctors in the United States experienced failure rates as high as 5.7%, more recent claims made in Zimmer Hip lawsuits suggest that the artificial hip failure rate is between 20% and 30%.
More than 200,000 potentially defective Zimmer NexGen knee replacement components may have been used throughout the United States, which could have caused thousands of people to experience problems or require additional Zimmer knee revision surgery due to early failure of their knee replacement. In September 2010, several Zimmer NexGen knee recalls were issued for different components used in their knee replacement systems due to design or manufacturing problems. Certain Zimmer NexGen MIS components were recalled due to a high number of reports of problems associated with the devices. In addition, certain Zimmer NexGen LPS knee components were recalled due to inconsistent geometry and non-conforming designs.
What is considered to be modern hip replacement surgery has been in effect since the 70′s, which is why the idea may seem so commonplace. A hip replacement, such as those from Zimmer Durom, most commonly consists of three manufactured pieces, engineered to replace and duplicate the operation of a joint. They include a metal replacement for part of the femur. There is also a component which facilitates natural movement that simulates a natural joint, lastly is the bone cement and / or screws that hold it all together. Thousands of individuals are entitled to compensation for their suffering. Victims of Zimmer hip failure are highly advised to contact an experienced Zimmer hip lawyer as soon as possible.

Zimmer Hip Plaintiffs Seek Damages, Settlements for Side Effects

A Texas resident has joined the ongoing litigation against Zimmer Orthopedics after a number of patients of certain hip devices discovered significant complications associated with the products. Jeffrey Johnson has filed a lawsuit with the help of a Zimmer hip lawyer, introducing his case to litigation on January 9, 2012 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Johnson underwent initial hip replacement surgery in 2008. The device which was implanted was the Zimmer Trilogy Acetabular Hip System, including a Zimmer Trilogy Shell and Liner. 

Zimmer Hip Lawsuits in Swiss Evidence Confusion

Zimmer hip lawsuits are running into unforeseen complications as Swiss laws become entangled in the litigation process. Zimmer Durom Cup hip replacement systems are one of the devices that is at the center of the Zimmer legal battle, and the product was developed and first marketed in Switzerland. Because of this, many documents related to the Durom cup device are located in Switzerland. 

Zimmer hip lawsuits in MDL

A number of plaintiffs have hired a Zimmer hip lawyer to take legal action against the orthopedics manufacturing giant. Zimmer Inc is preparing for a legal battle that could involve hundreds of plaintiffs. Zimmer has filed a motion regarding the Swiss branch of their company, Zimmer GmbH. Zimmer plaintiffs have filed Zimmer hip lawsuits because they have experienced significant side effects, including Zimmer hip failure. 

Swiss law means Zimmer lawyers should add party

Swiss penal code and the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection restrict the use of documents such as the ones relevant to Zimmer lawsuits as evidence in foreign civil litigation, and if Zimmer violates these restrictions the company will be subject to criminal and civil penalties. In order to avoid this, Zimmer has suggested that Zimmer lawyers for plaintiffs involved in Zimmer hip litigation name the Swiss subsidiary, Zimmer GmbH, as a party in each Zimmer hip lawsuit. This suggestion was made on August 15, 2011. 

On July 15, 2011, Zimmer notified plaintiffs' lawyers that Zimmer was working with Swiss counsel to find a solution that would allow relevant information to be disclosed for the sake of the Zimmer lawsuits that are currently awaiting litigation. By naming Zimmer GmbH in litigation, relevant evidence could be produced so long as the information protected by Swiss law was edited to take out personal information. 

Zimmer hip lawyers invoke Hague convention against plaintiffs

Some plaintiffs have argued that removal of personal information, such as names, from the relevant documentation necessary in Zimmer hip replacement cases that is currently being barred by Swiss law should be enough to ensure the protection of the company from criminal and civil penalties. However, Zimmer is countering with the argument that the Hague Convention, which establishes optional procedures that facilitate the taking of foreign evidence, is the best option in terms of protecting the company. 

Zimmer Hip Settlements Could Be Ahead

A number of people have already filed Zimmer Hip Lawsuit against orthopedics manufacturing company Zimmer, whose responsibility for the hip replacement device known as the Durom Cup has seen many people turn their attention in the company’s direction—but most of the press is negative. Democrats on the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce are getting involved—questioning why harmful brain stents and metal-on-metal Zimmer hip replacement recall continue to be sold throughout the United States with little oversight. 

Metal-on-metal hip replacement systems like the Zimmer Durom cup come in a variety of models from a variety of manufacturers but often side effects are the same. Component loosening, soft tissue damage, bone fracture, metal poisoning (metallosis), premature device dislocation, and Zimmer hip revision surgery are all directly linked to metal-on-metal hip replacement systems. This is worrisome to some House Democrats, who hope to convince Republicans that this issue needs to be looked into with greater depth.

Zimmer patients who have experienced severe side effects already know the issues that brought the devices to the attention of a part of the United States’ government. Zimmer actually recalled the Durom cup for a short time, claiming that they fixed the problems associated with it, but patients are still skeptical—especially those who have had to undergo hip revision surgery, a complex procedure that comes with a number of its own risks. 

Those who have experienced side effects of metal-on-metal hip replacement systems like the Zimmer Durom cup should contact a lawyer as quickly as possible to ensure that they stay within the statute of limitations for their state.

Complaints Over Zimmer Hip Failure Reach Their Peak in 2011

Some experts fear all-metal hip implants could become one of the biggest and most costly medical implant problems in recent history.Metal-on-metal hip implants accounted for nearly one-third of the estimated 250,000 Zimmer hip replacement recall performed each year. According to one estimate, some 500,000 patients have received an all-metal replacement hip. It is believed the devices can shed dangerous amounts of cobalt and chromium through wear, leading to tissue damage, premature device Zimmer hip failure, the need for revision surgery, and even long-term health problems. Symptoms discussed in the Times’ article include pain, rashes, and inflammation. Unfortunately, many metal-hip implant recipients who sustain tissue damage have no symptoms, making it difficult to determine if their device should be removed.

While Zimmer’s own estimates in 2008 suggested that some doctors in the United States experienced failure rates as high as 5.7%, more recent claims made in Zimmer Durom Cup lawsuits suggest that the artificial Zimmer hip implant failure is between 20% and 30%.In July 2008, the manufacturer decided to suspend U.S. sales of the product, but a Zimmer Durom Cup recall was not issued since they did not uncover evidence of any manufacturing defect or design defect. Over 12,000 people in the United States have had a Zimmer Durom Cup implanted during their hip replacement surgery.  Hundreds of these people could experience loosening of the component and the need for additional surgeries which was caused by the negligence of Zimmer Holdings, Inc.  

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. reported last year that it is setting aside $75 million to resolve current and future lawsuits over their Durom Cup hip replacement system. In October 2008, Zimmer disclosed that they had set aside $47.5 million to settle Durom Cup claims, and they indicated during their fourth-quarter of 2008 earnings report that the reserves had been increased to $69 million. The $75 million reported this quarter appears to be in addition to that amount. In June, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation decided to consolidate and centralize all lawsuits over the Zimmer hipreplacement in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey as part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL) for pretrial litigation.

No End In Sight To Zimmer Hip Lawsuits

In July 2008, Zimmer suspended US sales of the Durom Cup following complaints about Zimmer hip implant failure due to loosened components that required revision surgery. That year, Zimmer’s own estimates suggested that some doctors in the US experienced failure rates as high as 5.7 percent with the Durom Cup. However, some Zimmer Durom Cup Zimmer Hip Lawsuit claim the failure rate could be as high as 30 percent.  It is estimated that 500,000 patients in the U.S. may have received metal-on-metal hips, and it’s very likely that tens of thousands will be forced to undergo painful revision surgery due to early failures. More lawsuits are also expected and some experts believe the litigation surrounding all-metal hips may emerge as the largest product liability cases of this decade.

In July 2008, the manufacturer decided to suspend U.S. sales of the product, but a Zimmer Durom Cup recall was not issued since they did not uncover evidence of any manufacturing defect or design defect.  In fact, they intend to reintroduce the artificial Zimmer hip implant failure after they develop instructions about the special surgical techniques that doctors need to use to avoid the risk of Durom Cup problems. 

Zimmer Prepares for Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Lawsuits

Shortly after Zimmer introduced the Durom Cup in the United States, concerns emerged about a high number of Zimmer hip replacement recall involving the hip implant, where the component loosened and required revision surgery.In July 2008, Zimmer suspended US sales of the Durom Cup following complaints about Zimmer hip implant failure due to loosened components that required revision surgery. Approximately 12,000 individuals had the Zimmer Durom Cup system implanted in their hip between 2006 and 2008. While Zimmer’s own estimates in 2008 suggested that some doctors have experienced failure rates as high as 5.7%, more recent claims made in Zimmer Durom Cup lawsuits suggest that the artificial hip failure rate is between 20% and 30%.

In April 2008, prominent Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Larry Dorr, notified members of theAmerican Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons about the Zimmer Durom Cup problems he was encountering with patients who received the component.  Problems such as loosing of the components and a higher than expected rate of Zimmer hip revision surgery were identified by Dr. Dorr.After initially dismissing Dr. Dorr’s report of problems, Zimmer agreed to initiate an investigation of the Durom Cup problems in May 2008. 

Are Zimmer Hip Lawsuits Linked to 510(k) Overhaul?

After a slew of Zimmer hip replacement lawsuits regarding the Zimmer Durom Cup, the Food and Drug Administration has requested that a study be conducted on the effectiveness of the current 510(k) medical device approval process that is in place. This process allows devices, such as joint replacement systems like the Durom Cup, that are similar to medical devices already on the market to be approved more quickly because of their similarities to the pre-existing devices.

Based on the number of patients who have had complaints about serious problems and complications associated with their medical devices – many a Zimmer hip lawyer has filed lawsuits against Zimmer and other makers of orthopedic and joint replacement devices after experiencing more severe hip complications, some of which necessitated Zimmer  hip revision surgery – it appears as though this expedited approval process for some medical devices is not appropriate or safe for consumers.

Zimmer Hip Places Blame Everywhere But On Themselves

In February 2011, the Food and Drug Administration stated that there are "unique risks" for "metal-on-metal" artificial hips because tiny metal ions can wear off and damage nearby tissue. Patients who have received all metal implants should be aware of potential symptoms which may occur after surgery and indicate that their device is not functioning properly. Common symptoms may include: pain in the groin, hip or leg, swelling at or near the hip joint and a limp or change in walking ability. The Zimmer Durom Cup was approved in the United States in 2006 for use during total hip replacement, or total hip arthroplasty. The component has been implanted in over 12,000 patients. According to information released by Zimmer, some doctors have encountered post-hip surgery problems requiring Zimmer hip revision surgery as much as 5.7% of the time.

Doctors Point Fingers at Zimmer in Hip Replacement Lawsuits

The tipping point in the Zimmer Durom Cup recall was a letter written by Lawrence D. Dorr, MD, an orthopedic surgeon who is the medical director of the Dorr Institute for Arthritis Research and Education in California. Dr. Door is considered to be an opinion leader in hip and joint replacement surgery and research around the world. Dr. Dorr found that 14 of the 165 Durom hip systems implanted at his clinic needed a Zimmer Hip revision surgery within two years of hip implant surgery. Several hip surgeons, including Dr. Dorr, of the Dorr Arthritis Institute at good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles and Amar Ranawat, MD, of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City have been working on a project to develop software for robotic-guided navigation for hip surgery.

Zimmer Hip Replacement Lawsuits: A Small Consolation?

Individuals who have been fitted with Zimmer’s Durom Cup hip replacement system and have experienced some of the many side effects associated with it may be entitled to file a Zimmer Hip lawsuit against the orthopedics manufacturing giant, and the company may even choose to settle with the plaintiff out of court. However, this is little consolation for some patients, who may have dealt with excruciating pain and other complications related to their side effects.

Zimmer Durom Cup Trials Move Forward in MDL

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) issued a warning in October 2010 about potential the risk of metal poisoning from hip replacements, indicating that patients and the medical community should be aware that pain months after hip surgery may be a sign of cobalt toxicity. Since then, lawsuits involving Zimmer’s Durom Cup hip replacement have sky rocketed due to both; Metallosis and Zimmer hip implant failures. Zimmer announced that it had set aside $150 million to deal with any and all settlements concerning their defective hip but, since more and more lawsuits keep coming forward, this number is sure to grow.

Zimmer Hip Lawyers Could Help Plaintiffs Net Thousands

Although as with any litigation, it is not clear how much compensation a plaintiff stands to receive if he or she wins a Durom Cup case against Zimmer Holdings, the amount could be significant, especially since the vast number of people affected negatively by the hip replacement system is indicative of a flaw in the product. Zimmer first introduced its hip replacement system to the market in 2006, and it was not long before complaints started coming in of side effects such as hip implant dislocation, pain, stiffness, and perhaps most notably, metal poisoning. The metal-on-metal nature of the device caused the two components of the hip replacement system to rub together, shredding microscopic bits of metal into the patient’s bloodstream and surrounding tissues. This caused metallosis, or metal poisoning, in some patients, a condition which can cause severe pain and inflammation. Patients across the country are filing Zimmer hip lawsuits to recieve the compensation they deserve.

FDA Investigates Metal Poisoning from Zimmer Hip Replacements

As concerns grow about the levels of cobalt and chromium shed by metal on metal hip replacement devices, the FDA is ordering manufacturers to conduct followup research on patients to see what health effects the implants may have. In all, FDA sent a total of 145 post marketing surveillance orders to 21 different manufacturers including Zimmer. When completed, the studies will include information about the level at which the metal particles shed by hip replacements becomes dangerous, how much metal the devices actually shed, and what the potential side effects are. It is known that over time, metal particles around some implants can lead to damage to bone and/or tissue around the implant or joint. This damage is referred to by some as an "adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR)" or an "adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD)." Many patients are experiencing Zimmer hip implant failure and need a revision surgery.

Zimmer Hip Lawsuit Settlements On the Horizon

As a result of the ongoing Zimmer hip lawsuits filed by patients who have experienced side effects as a result of Zimmer hip replacement systems, several settlements have been given out, amounts that could help compensate for costs associated with the hip replacement complications. Medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses will be considered when a settlement is given out.
After a series of lawsuits aimed at the orthopedics manufacturing giant Zimmer surfaced over their metal-on-metal hip replacement systems, Zimmer set aside an amount of $47.5 million in order to cover settlements and jury verdicts surrounding the case. Recently this amount has grown to nearly $145 million, proving that Zimmer is prepared to hand out a significant number of settlements.

Zimmer Places Blame On Doctors for Hip Failures

Since August 19, 2008, Zimmer has been offering web-based training to surgeons to highlight important aspects of the Durom Cup design, pre-operative planning that is necessary and detailed instructions on special surgical techniques that are required. They have indicated that they will start making the Zimmer Durom Hip Cup available to doctors after they complete the internet training. Zimmer allowed approximately 12,000 people in the United States to receive their Durom Cup, even though they knew or should have known that doctors were not provided with adequate warnings and instructions about the surgical techniques required to avoid failure of the hip replacement parts. According to Zimmer’s own estimates, some doctors experienced Zimmer hip implant failure rates as high as 5.7% with the Durom Cup.

Zimmer Hip Failures May Also Be Causing Metal Poisoning

  Metal-on-metal hip replacements, which use cobalt and chromium in their construction, currently account for about one-third of the 250,000 hip replacements performed each year in the United States. However, in recent years, concerns over problems with metal-on-metal hip replacements have been growing. Many metal-on-metal hip replacements have been linked to a high rate of early failure. This is the main focus of what is becoming known as the Zimmer hip lawsuit. Surgeons and doctors were choosing the Zimmer Dorum for patients that, under normal conditions, would require a full hip replacement, especially considering that it was designed to be a long lasting solution. However, almost 12 percent of these patients needed surgery again within two years, caused major emotional and physical reaction.

Zimmer Hip Failure Affects Thousands

Before suspending sales of the Zimmer Durom Cup, Zimmer allowed approximately 12,000 people in the United States to receive their Durom Cup, even though they knew or should have known that doctors were provided with inadequate warnings and instructions about the surgical techniques required to avoid failure of the hip replacement parts. Zimmer’s own research data estimates that some doctors experienced Zimmer hip failure rates as high as 5.7%, though many estimate the numbers much higher. For months after doctors started reporting Zimmer Durom hip problems, Zimmer ignored safety concerns and refused to conduct a full investigation. According to current lawsuits, Zimmer has allowed thousands of people to be implanted with the Durom Cup without adequately disclosing the risks and necessary surgical techniques.

Zimmer Sets aside $150m for Settlements, 45 Lawsuits go into Mediation

Judge Susan Wigenton of the New Jersey federal court has ordered that 45 lawsuits brought against Zimmer Inc. should go forward into mediation. A third party mediator will be set up to distribute compensation due to side effects and failure of Zimmer’s Durom Cup, used in their hip replacements. $150 million has been set up by Zimmer to compensate the plaintiffs, many of whom suffered severe pain due to the breakdown of the Durom cup, in many cases, within 2-3 years of their initial surgery.

Planned Settlements for Zimmer Hip Lawsuit Cases

Zimmer Holdings Incorporated, makers of the Zimmer hip replacement system, have been so plagued with lawsuits since the faults in their hip replacement system were revealed that they have set aside $47 million simply to deal with the payouts and settlements the lawsuits will necessitate. Some of the problems with the Zimmer hip replacement are so serious that patients need a risky hip revision surgery, or a second surgery in order to replace or repair the implant. This surgery can cause dozens of its own complications, and can even threaten the life of the patient.
Lawsuits against Zimmer Holdings Incorporated started being filed in 2008, when patients first started reporting problems with their implants. That same year, Zimmer pulled the hip implant from the US market – but has since reintroduced it, claiming that surgical error and not technological error to be at fault in this case, and requiring all surgeons to take a course on proper administration of the implant before using it in surgery. However, this does not stop the flood of lawsuits from pouring in – lawsuits are still being filed, and there is no telling how many of the 12,000 people who received the implant will complain of side effects and file suit against the company. Some studies have shown that, depending on the situation, as many as 5.7% of people who received the implant experienced failure. Patients have complained of hip pain, swelling, and loosening of the implant, all of which detract from the quality of life of the patient and in some cases cannot be remedied simply.
Although the hardware was approved in 2006, it seems as though Zimmer Holdings Incorporated has created a product that has caused gratuitous harm, potentially to thousands of patients. Despite this, they have reintroduced a potentially unsafe product to the US market.