Friday, January 16, 2009

Faulty Zimmer Durom Hip Cups Lead to Lawsuits

By Maxwell Schmickman

As a people, American's are living much longer than we used to. This is great news! But with a longer lifespan also comes new health problems. Because we're living longer and more active lives, we sometimes outlive the life of our joints. In that case, they need to be replaced, through such procedures as hip or knee replacement surgery. Normally, these operations give people a new lease on their lives, but this isn't always the case, and there can be complications. If you or someone you know has received a hip replacement, they will need to know the following information about faulty Zimmer Durom hip cups used in that operation.

As you get older, it's likely that you're feeling more aches and pains than you used to. For many of us, this is due to joint wear and tear caused by our everyday activities. Because we're living longer, we're also doing more damage to our joints than we used to. When you have this type of joint damage, a hip replacement operation, the kind that used the Zimmer Durom hip cup, is a good option. Hip replacement surgeries are also used in cases where patients have progressive joint diseases, such as arthritis, or have suffered damage due to a broken hip.

Hip replacement surgery involves the removal of the femur and hip joint. They are then replaced with artificial parts that are designed to allow for normal and healthy movement. Unfortunately, with older technology, these replacements often needed to be replaced themselves, leading to expensive and difficult repeat surgeries. The promise of the Zimmer Durom hip cup was that it would allow younger hip replacement recipients to use one replacement for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, this has not been true.

While the Zimmer Durom hip cup was marketed specifically for its longevity, this has not held true during use. Because of marketing claims, many hospitals have been using this specific device for younger hip replacement patients, with the promise that they will not need hip replacement surgery again. However, this claim hasn't held true. At one hospital, 12 percent of patients needed surgery to replace their replacement within two years! When contacted, the company maintained that this was due to 'surgeon error' and not to faulty hip replacements.

The issue is not with surgeon error, but with the implant itself. When the Zimmer Durom hip cup was tested by the company, eight percent of those who received it needed a replacement in under two years. This number is incredibly high, and has led to serious problems for those needing a new replacement, and for those who are worried that their hip replacement may fail. Because of these issue, a class action law suit is being filed.

If you have received a hip replacement, now is the time to ask your doctor if it involved the Zimmer Durom hip cup. If you have had problems, and even if you have not yet, you may be able to join the class action suit against the company. - 16004

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