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. 

Faulty Zimmer Hip Implant Goes to Court

On October 20, 2011, Tina Muetz filed a lawsuit against Zimmer Inc., alleging that the company's Trilogy Acetabular Hip System had failed. Muetz's case, which will be tried in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, comes on the heels of similar lawsuits involving a different Zimmer product – the Metasul Durom Cup, which went through it's own Zimmer hip recall.

Canadian Judge Approves Class Action Zimmer Hip Implant Lawsuit

Canadian hip implant patients who have suffered side effects or complications from use of the Zimmer Durom Cup acetabular device are eligible to join a class action lawsuit against the company, Justice Gregory Bowden has ruled. So far, 35 Canadians have reported problems with the device, but the lawyer responsible for the Zimmer hip class action lawsuit says that ultimately up to 100 Canadians are expected to join the suit.

The Zimmer hip class action lawsuit is welcome news to the patients who have required hip revision surgery or have experienced joint pain, immobility, stiffness, inflammation, and/or diminished range of motion as a result of using the Zimmer Durom Cup.

Initial Zimmer Hip Lawsuits

Zimmer Hip Defects Lead to More and More Lawsuits

A Zimmer hip lawsuit has been filed by Jocelyn Quinn of Louisiana, alleging that she has undergone severe pain and disfigurement due to the failing device. Her case has been transferred into the Zimmer hip multidistrict litigation (MDL) currently being carried out in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. As many as half a million Americans may have the all-metal hip implants, and a sizeable percentage of them are likely to file a lawsuit after their implants fail. The Zimmer Durom Cup was first introduced in the United States in 2006, as a more advanced form of an artificial hip. The hip resurfacing system is designed out of a single piece of material and is supposed to avoid problems associated with traditional hip replacement components, such as instability, limited range of motion and wear of the bearing.

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. Over the past two years, concerns have increased about a risk metal hip replacement complications, resulting in use of the implants dropping to just 5% of the artificial hip market. While Zimmer’s own estimates in 2008 suggested that some doctors have experienced failure rates as high as 5.7%, more recent claims suggest that the Durom Cup failure rate is between 20% and 30%.

A temporary Zimmer Durom Cup recall was issued in July 2008, so that revisions could be made to the product’s warnings and instructions to ensure that doctors were properly trained on the surgical techniques needed to implant the artificial hip correctly. According to Quinn’s Zimmer hip lawyer, she never would have had the device installed had she been made aware of the defectiveness of the product. In a statement released on their website, Zimmer stated that a thorough check of the Durom Cup, including evaluation of the manufacturing processes, design specifications and product documentation, failed to reveal any evidence of a defect in the artificial hip part.

Consolidation of Zimmer Knee Lawsuits, Leads Many to Hope For Settlements

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) has ordered that all personal injury lawsuits involving Zimmer NexGen knee implant components currently pending in federal courts throughout the U.S. be consolidated in a multidistrict litigation and transferred to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The multidistrict litigation process, more commonly referred to as the Zimmer NexGen MDL, is often confused with a class action lawsuit against Zimmer. While the MDL and a Zimmer NexGen knee class action lawsuit have many similarities during pretrial proceedings, each claim remains an individual lawsuit, where the plaintiff must establish that their injuries were caused by Zimmer knee problems and each claim will be decided individually be a jury.

Zimmer Argues Health Risks Of NexGen Components

Zimmer Hip Replacement Problems Spark Complaints

In 2011 alone, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received more than 5,000 consumer complaints related to metal-on-metal hip implant devices. One such device is Zimmer Inc.'s Metasul Durom Cup, a hip replacement device recommended to young, active patients who are expected to outlive the useful life of traditional hip replacement products.

Zimmer Hip Replacement Shows High Rate of Failure

Zimmer hip replacement problems went public in 2008, when Dr. Larry Dorr reported that the Metasul Durom cup had a high Zimmer hip failure and replacement rate. Dr. Dorr, who has conducted thousands of hip replacement surgeries, revealed that more than 8% of his hip replacement patients required Zimmer hip revision surgery to remove the device, many within two years of implantation. As of July 2008, 12,000 people in the United State had already received Durom Cup hip replacements. If Dr. Dorr's statistics hold true, almost 1,000 would require removal and replacement.

Zimmer Knee Problems Result of Faulty Device

It is estimated that approximately 130,000 patients receive knee replacements each year to treat deterioration caused by arthritis, osteoarthritis and other causes. Zimmer Holdings, a world leader in knee replacement devices, manufactures the NexGen CR-Flex device, which has been marketed as the knee replacement of the future. Featuring a unique, cementless design, the model was designed to give patients a much wider range of motion compared to other knee replacement devices.

The Zimmer Knee and NexGen Defects

However, the NexGen CR-Flex has received serious criticism due to reports of faulty craftsmanship and a partial product recall in September 2010. The recall was based on the device presenting a "nonconforming and inconsistent geometry." The model is reported to fail by loosening at the femur joint, in effect reducing a patient's range of movement and causing significant pain. Affected patients must undergo additional procedures, including premature Zimmer revision surgery, to correct the problem.

In Chicago, a multi-district litigation (MDL) has formed to protect patients who have fallen victim to Zimmer knee problems. At the time of its formation, the MDL consisted of 73 plaintiffs and was slated for the U.S. District Court in Chicago's Northern District of Illinois. Since the first filing, many more plaintiffs have joined – and still more are expected to come onboard. The MDL will help streamline the pre-trial process, making Zimmer lawsuits more efficient and hopefully producing quick results.

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.

Harris Hip Score Used To Evaluate Zimmer Hip Problems

Patients who have been implanted with a Zimmer hip replacement system have, since 2006, faced hurdles in recovery. The problems include: unexplained hip pain more than three months after hip replacement, loosening of their artificial hip implant and hip replacement revision surgery. Potential lawsuits are being investigated on behalf of individuals who have experienced issues with the Zimmer Durom Cup.  Doctors have reported a number of problems with the artificial hip replacement component, which have resulted in the need for additional surgeries for many patients. When talking with your physician about problems with your hip replacement, they will present you with a series of questions known as the Harris Hip Score. The questions will center around the subjects of: pain, support, distance walked, limp, stairs, sitting, etc.

Although the Harris hip score frequently is used to assess the outcome of total hip replacement, only a few minor validity tests have been presented. The aim of this study was to perform a validity test of the Harris hip score and to test its reliability.  The Harris hip score can be used by a physician or a physiotherapist to study the clinical outcome of hip replacement. Most validity tests show the Harris Hip Score to be a good indicator of a successful hip replacement, but not everyone responds to issues with their hip replacements the same way. Those who are rated between “fair” and “poor” according to their score, may be entitled to and wish to seek damages due to a defective Zimmer hip replacement.

In April 2008, prominent Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Larry Dorr, notified members of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons about the Zimmer Durom Cup problems he was encountering with patients who received the component. 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

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.