Makers of Zimmer Durom Hip Cup Sued for Failures
Sunday, July 26th, 2009As 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.
If you’re an older American, it’s likely that you or someone that you know has needed a hip replacement. These surgeries, many of which involved the Zimmer Durom hip cup, are often seen as a way for otherwise healthy and active seniors to live longer, healthier lives, doing what they love to do. Normal wear and tear can lead to joint pain severe enough that hip replacement surgery is recommended. Chronic conditions such as arthritis also often lead to hip replacement, as do falls which lead to broken hips which have caused joint damage.
Hip replacement technology has allowed thousands of Americans to continue their favorite and treasured activities. In it, the femur and hip joint are replaced, allowing for normal movement without pain. Until recently however, a young recipient of this surgery would likely need their replacement itself replaced eventually, causing pain. Zimmer Durom hip cups promised to change that, with the marketing slogan that younger people could live their whole lives with one hip replacement. Unfortunately, this claim has not held true under scrutiny.
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.
But in fact, this does not seem to be the case at all. When the company did their own evaluation of the Zimmer Durom hip cup, they found that eight percent needed to be replaced within two years. This is not what they promised in their marketing literature, and not the outcome that either patients or doctors wanted or expected. Because this was promised as a solution that avoided surgery, not added more, the faulty nature of the implants is leading to a class action law suit.
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.