Have you suffered a failure after a Zimmer CR Flex Cementless Porous Femoral Head knee replacement surgery? Is revision or removal required?
In 2008, Zimmer Holdings, Inc., a medical device maker and considered a leader in the field of hip and knee replacements, issued a recall on its NEXGEN Complete Knee Solution MIS Total Knee System. MIS means minimally invasive surgery. The Zimmer recall occurred after the device appeared to potentially have broken during surgeries leaving fragments of metal in patients’ knees. Later, Zimmer clarified the recall by citing that the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) instrument was what was recalled not the knee implant itself.
Then, more recently, a study was published that suggested that this particular NexGen implant itself was failing at a high rate. The publication was titled, “The High Failure Rate of a High-Flex Total Knee Arthroplasty Design”.
Minimally invasive total knee replacement involves a smaller incision of 4 to 6 inches as opposed to the longer incision of 8 to 10 inches. With a smaller incision, there is less damage to the tissue around the knee which can mean a shorter hospital stay, less recovery time, and less scarring. Although an artificial knee can be implanted through a smaller incision, doctors differ on their opinions as to whether or not MIS can be accomplished as well as longer incisions.
However, does this recent evidence now suggest that people who received the Zimmer NexGen MIS part in connection with a Total Knee Replacement of the tibia may be at increased risk of loosening or outright failure? Further study and investigation may ultimately provide the answer to this question.
Have you suffered a knee replacement failure after surgery using this particular Zimmer implant? If so, please contact us for a legal free case evaluation.
Did you have a knee replacement? Do you need another knee replacement sooner than expected?
Knee replacement surgery should not be taken lightly as knee surgery is considered major surgery and will affect your future mobility.
It’s between you and your doctor but you probably don’t need knee replacement surgery if—knee pain doesn’t limit normal activities and knee pain feels better with some treatments. Taking small steps to remedy knee pain is always a better option than major knee surgery.
On the other hand, here are some reasons why a knee replacement could be warranted:
- Knee pain confines you from climbing stairs or getting up from a chair.
- Knee pain restricts you from the activities you like such as walking the dog or going shopping.
- Knee pain is so great that you can’t sleep or can’t fall sleep.
Treatments and remedies over a period of time have not helped with the pain.
Knee surgery is not one size fits all or even one gender fits all. A knee system implant fitted for a 200-pound man would not be suitable for a 135-pound woman. Many factors must be considered including your age, history of prior surgeries, bone mass density, and overall health.
Have you or your spouse or parent suffered knee replacement surgery injury? Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon that failing medical device knee implants are causing thousands of people to redo their knee replacements in two or three years instead of 15 or 20 years.
What can you do?
Seek legal assistance by contacting Monheit Law. Learn about your legal options regarding a failedknee replacement lawsuit. Are the medical device makers or the surgeons responsible? Are there other reasons for you knee implant failure?
Zimmer Hip Replacement Complaints and Lawsuits
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received several complaints concerning the Zimmer hip replacement implant. Last year Zimmer temporarily suspended marketing of the medical device but attempted to place fault on the implanting surgeons’ techniques and not their own product. Instead ofvoluntarily recalling the Zimmer hip implant device, Zimmer claimed they were revising surgical instructions and devising a surgical training program.
In the meantime, hundreds of patients could need additional hip replacement surgeries years earlier than the safer average. Several patients have already filed Zimmer Durom® cup lawsuits alleging defects of the implant. These lawsuits are expected to rise as more patients experience hip replacement failure.
In parts of Europe and Australia, there is a medical device registry where doctors can look at to determine the success or failure rate or problems associated with certain medical devices. For example, Zimmer still sells a knee implant device in the United States even though doctors in Australia stopped using because of its failure rate.
Are United States doctors and their trusting patients Zimmer’s guinea pigs?
As you might imagine, pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers in the United States are in no hurry to start any such database registries here.
Have you or a loved one received a failed Zimmer hip replacement implant or knee replacement implant?
FAQ’s
What are the complications of hip replacement surgery?
Hip implants wear out after 20 years or so. Then more replacement surgery is needed and it’s always more complex. With each replacement surgery, the lifespan of the implant declines. The fear of blood clots and infections are very real and always a threat. Certain sitting and bending positions are limited or impossible. 90 percent of hip replacement surgery is successful.
What is the problem with the Zimmer Durom hip implant?
A renowned orthopedic announced that the implantable Durom hip socket is poorly designed. After performing routine hip replacements, his patients experienced great pain prompting immediate replacements for their hip replacements. This is unacceptable and puts patients at risk.
Do You Have A Zimmer Implant Case? »
Did the FDA recall the defective hip implant?
No, the FDA cannot recall a product or medical device. It can recommend a recall. Zimmer has not recalled the implantable hip socket but chose instead to halt marketing and selling it until they could better train orthopedic surgeons.
Do I qualify for a Zimmer hip implant lawsuit?
Perhaps, but you won’t know until you consult with a medical device attorney. If you or a family member has suffered from a Zimmer Durom hip implant or needed to have revision replacement surgery because of unrelenting pain, please contact Monheit Law for a no-cost, no-obligation confidential consultation.
Can I afford a product negligence lawsuit?
The answer is yes. If you agree to retain Monheit Law and Monheit Law agrees to be retained, you both sign an agreement stating so. Monheit Law represents defective medical device lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This means if you do not win your case, Monheit Law does not get paid. The time to fight for justice is now.
What are the financial implications of hip and knee implants?
The population is aging: A study published last year calculated that 45 percent of Americans or 135 million people will be diagnosed with debilitating knee arthritis. Three greedy corporations specialize in implantable medical devices – Zimmer, Medtronic, and Stryker who combined market value rival the combined market value of General Motors, Ford, Sears, Dell, and Sony.