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. 

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

After a slew of Zimmer hip replacement lawsuits, 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.

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 Hip Replacement Lawsuits in Multidistrict Litigation

Over five years ago Zimmer started receiving complaints of consumers who were facing severe side effects associated with the product. Now the litigation surrounding the case is close to being resolved, with dozens of plaintiffs waiting for a court decision that might gain them compensation for past and future medical bills for treatments that will help alleviate pain and suffering related to the conditions they have developed.

Patients Wonder: Who Can File a Zimmer Hip Lawsuit?

The Zimmer Durom Cup hip replacement system has become controversial in recent years due to the high rate of failure experienced by patients who had been fitted with the system, and many of these patients are wondering if they are eligible to file a lawsuit against Zimmer. This would be useful to many patients because a lawsuit could mean compensation – relief from some of the medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses that may have been incurred as a result of the side effects associated with the implant.
The Durom Cup has been found to experience a higher rate of failure than similar devices, and because of this Zimmer suspended sales of the device to investigate claims in July of 2008. However, just three months later, they began to sell the product once again. Even before the recall, the Durom Cup was implanted in around 12,000 Americans, and thousands more have been used since the product was reintroduced to the market.

Zimmer Hip Replacement Lawsuit May Get Underway Soon

Zimmer Holdings, which is a publicly traded company that made over $4 billion in revenue in 2009 alone, is facing a slew of lawsuits over their Durom Cup hip replacement system. Patients using the device have experienced various side effects and complications from the implant, in many cases making life more difficult and causing extensive pain and bodily harm. Although pretrial proceedings for the multidistrict lawsuit surrounding the case may get underway as soon as later this year, Zimmer may try to reach a settlement with plaintiffs.

Zimmer Hip Replacement Lawsuit May Get Underway Soon

Zimmer Holdings, which is a publicly traded company that made over $4 billion in revenue in 2009 alone, is facing a slew of lawsuits over their Durom Cup hip replacement system. Patients using the device have experienced various side effects and complications from the defective hip implant, in many cases making life more difficult and causing extensive pain and bodily harm. Although pretrial proceedings for the multidistrict lawsuit surrounding the case may get underway as soon as later this year, Zimmer may try to reach a settlement with plaintiffs.
Zimmer has set aside more than $100 million to handle costs associated with settlements and lawsuits related to their Durom Cup implant system. The company has also already reached out to some victims of the faulty implant, especially those who have had to undergo painful and complicated hip revision surgery to remove and replace the implant. A lawyer for these victims might suggest that they do not take the settlement, which most likely will not represent fair compensation for the suffering they have had to undergo as well as the pain they may continue to experience in the future due to the nature of the implant system. More likely, these patients should file suit against Zimmer in order to receive a greater amount of compensation.
Lawsuits related to the Zimmer case have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation case, which will help speed them through the judicial system. Although there were only 45 lawsuits when the case was approved for multidistrict litigation, experts estimate that there could be hundreds by the time pretrial proceedings begin. The cases, filed in federal courts nationwide, will take place in the District of New Jersey, under Judge Susan D. Wigenton. Although there is no telling what kind of settlement patients may receive, the decision to consolidate the Zimmer hip lawsuits and put them through the New Jersey court brings plaintiffs closer to compensation.

Zimmer Hip Statue of Limitations: Time May Not Have Run Out

Patients who have been affected by the side effects that have come to be associated with Zimmer Durom cup hip replacement systems – hip and groin pain, pain when climbing stairs, and other serious complications – may be interested to know that, while the statue of limitations in their state may have run out, they could still have time to file a Zimmer hip replacement lawsuit.
The statue of limitations, which is the period during which a plaintiff can file papers with court, varies from state to state. In New Jersey, where Zimmer lawsuits have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation, the statue of limitations is two years – and most, if not all, patients who have received faulty Durom cup implants received them at least two years ago, usually more. Despite this, recipients of a faulty implant may still have time to file a lawsuit.
In most cases, the statue of limitations does not begin until a patient discovers side effects from the hip implant, or is diagnosed with them. For example, a patient who received an implant in 2007 but did not experience side effects until 2010 may still be able to file a Zimmer hip replacement lawsuit until 2012. Additionally, in some cases, the statue of limitations can be extended, which usually takes place when there is a delay in the discovery of a wrongdoing or when a defendant has fraudulently concealed a wrongdoing, such as in the case of a patient who believes his or her pain after surgery to be normal for a few years afterwards, but then realizes it is due to a faulty implant.
However, in any case, only an experienced and trusted lawyer can give truly accurate advice to a potential plaintiff as to whether or not he or she has a Zimmer hip replacement case.