Zimmer Hip Replacements

what are Zimmer metal hip products?

Zimmer Holdings Inc. is a global manufacturer of metal-on-metal hip implant products, including complete revision systems, femoral components, and acetabular components. The Durom Cup, one of many Zimmer products, was implanted in more than 12,000 patients from 2006 to 2008 alone.

Zimmer Holdings Inc. manufactures acetabular components that line the acetabular cup and femoral components that fit in the femur and create a new femoral head. Femoral components include the M/L Taper with Kinectiv Technology and the Versys Epoch FullCoat Hip, among others. Acetabular components include the Trilogy Acetabular Hip System and the Durom Cup. Zimmer also has complete hip revision systems like the Wagner SL Revision Hip.

If you have experienced adverse effects from your Zimmer Metal Hip Replacement, Shunnarah can help you with the following:

The Dangers of Metal-On-Metal Hip Implants

Many of Zimmer’s products are metal components and its revision systems are metal-on-metal (MoM), which means both the femoral head and acetabular lining are made of metal parts. Metal-on-metal hip components became popular in recent years as an alternative to traditional hip replacement systems that included ceramic components.

The hip joint consists of a femoral head, which rests atop of the femur. The joint fits inside of the acetabulum, which is a concave area in the pelvis. When a patient undergoes hip revision surgery, the acetabulum may be lined with a cup, which is referred to as an acetabular component. The patient may also have the femoral head replaced and a rod inserted into the femur to hold the new joint in place.

Metal-on-metal hip replacement systems were marketed primarily to younger consumers as a longer-lasting alternative that could provide a broader range of motion and more flexibility than traditional replacement joints. As many as 10 percent of all hip replacement procedures between 2006 and 2009 used MoM products and the majority of these procedures were performed on individuals aged 50 or younger. In fact, for patients within this age group, nearly half of all surgical hip replacement or revision procedures used metal-on-metal components.

Several of the metal-on-metal systems, including those produced and sold by Zimmer Holdings Inc., came to the market after going through the FDA’s 501(K) clearance process. This is a simpler, expedited approval process that permits the sale of a product with limited or no dedicated human testing. This is permitted because the product is considered very similar to existing medical devices on the market. The absence of testing, however, may have resulted in dangerous products being released onto the market.

In July 2008, Zimmer suspended sales of the Durom Cup because of a high rate of reported failures . Though not technically a hip recall, the company subsequently determined that surgeons were to blame for any problems and that the Durom Cup was not defective. After updating the surgical instructions, the product was re-released.

However, many medical experts believe this product and other Zimmer hip components are unsafe. Larry Dorr, the director of the Institute for Arthritis Research and Education, identified a high failure rate among certain Zimmer products, including the Durom Cup. Instead of lasting 15 years as promised, the devices were failing quickly, making revision surgery necessary. Dorr alerted the FDA and Zimmer to the failure rate, but the company continues to market and sell hip replacement products despite evidence of serious Zimmer hip complications.

Zimmer hip replacement lawsuits

Patients who are harmed by medical devices like Zimmer hip implants have legal rights. Zimmer Durom Cup lawsuits have been consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. MDL coordinates similar civil cases before a single judge for pretrial proceedings. That judge can then issue rulings that apply to all pending claims, thus allowing cases to be handled more expediently.

MDLs are appropriate when plaintiffs have been harmed by a similar damaging product but have experienced different types of health problems as a result. For some plaintiffs who’ve brought a Zimmer hip lawsuit, the problem is a failure of the Durom Cup to adhere to the bone and remain in place, resulting in unexpected hip joint movement. For others, metallosis may occur. Metallosis is a type of metal poisoning that happens when the components rub against each other, releasing tiny fragments of chromium and cobalt, which can contaminate the body.

Other symptoms may include:

• Regular and prolonged pain in the groin, hip, or leg;
• Swelling at or near the hip joint; or
• Numbness
• A limp or a change in walking ability
• Skin Rash
• Thyroid Dysfunction
• Metallosis/ Blood Poisoning
• Neurological changes such as auditory or visual impairments

If you’ve experienced these symptoms and need an attorney, contact Shunnarah now.