Despite many serious alleged failures and patient complaints
concerning the Zimmer NexGen artificial knee, Zimmer has no immediate plans to
issue a recall. Zimmer continues to defend its high flex knees despite many
scientific findings and studies that have reported problems. Total knee
replacement patients who have suffered from any Zimmer knee failure, either
pain and stiffness, or the more serious knee revision surgery, should consult
with a Zimmer knee attorney to determine whether they may have a cause of
action against Zimmer, possibly for damages.
Since the Zimmer NexGen artificial knee was approved for
U.S. sale, many implant patients have experienced higher than normal Zimmer knee failure. Many such patients filed Zimmer knee lawsuits. They were encouraged
when Zimmer did voluntarily suspend sales of its MIS tibial parts that are used
in the artificial knee. However, Zimmer did not issue a complete NexGen knee
recall.
Scientific reports and studies are now supporting the
patients’ complaints. Many such studies conducted in the past few years have
focused on early loosening of the component femoral parts of the knee
replacement device. Studies conducted in 2008 and 2010 did
find ample evidence of such early loosening.
The 2008 study by Dr. Kang found that 38
percent of the high flex knees had a specific type of Zimmer knee failure--premature
loosening around femoral components, at an average of 32 months after being
surgically implanted. By the same average time, 21 percent of patients
experienced such pain and device loosening that they were forced to have
revision surgery. The 2010 study also found a high rate of early loosening of
the femoral parts.
Further,
a 2011 study attempted to further discover the factors contributing to high
flex Zimmer knee failure. Researchers created a 3-D knee model to determine the
likelihood of femoral loosening at different degrees of knee flexion. They
concluded that femoral loosening was more common at higher degrees of flexion —
the attribute that Zimmer had highlighted as an advanced design feature.
With
the evidence presented by the studies, Zimmer lawyers should be able to file
Zimmer NexGen lawsuits, despite the lack of a recall by Zimmer.
