Zimmer Durom Hip Replacement? You Can Sue
Joint replacement has become a normal fact of life for many people. As we get older, and our life expectancies grow longer, joints are subject to more wear and tear than they used to be. This means that in many cases, for continued activity and quality of life, these joints need to be replaced. Because this has become such a common opportation, most of us don’t question the choice of manufacturer made by our doctor for ourselves and our parents, leading to serious issues that can cause injury. If you or someone you know has gotten a hip replacement, keep reading about a recall from Zimmer Durom, a manufacturer.
Having your hip replaced is something that has happened to many American’s for a number of reasons. These hip replacements, unfortunately, could have been the faculty ones manufactured by Zimmer Durom. Hip replacement, or hip arthroplasty, is a surgery in which the natural hip joint is replaced by an artificial ones. There are many different conditions for which this surgery is recommended. They include the pain for arthritis which was located in the hip joint. Normal wear on the joint is also a reason, when it affects quality of life. Lastly, hip joints are often replaced after a hip fracture.
The modern hip replacement operation, using such mechanical parts as those manufactured by Zimmer Durom, has been taking place for almost 40 years. This is why it may seem so common place to you, and surprising that there are such issues with the procedure. It involves three pieces, designed to mimic the movements of a natural hip joint. They are the metal replacement for the femur bone, a part designed to mimic the hip joint itself, which can vary from implant to implant, and bone cement or screws to hold it in place.
If you have had hip replacement surgery, than you know that one of the biggest problems is the need for revision, or further surgery to solve problems with the prosthesis. This can cause serious damage to a patient’s ability to walk, and is painful, time consuming, and expensive. The Zimmer Durom device was marketed exactly for its ability to avoid this problem, and to last longer than most prosthetics, so that younger patients could wear the device for the rest of their lives. However, in one study, 12 percent of patients needed revision in under two years, causing a medical community outcry.
Zimmer Durom maintains that this high failure rate is the result of surgeon error, but their own study has shown that 8 percent of patients need a revision in under two years, and it was pulled from the market in July 2008. Many doctors and lawyers believe that the issue is with the replacement, and there is a right to sue.
So if you or someone you love has received a hip replacement in the last several years, contact your doctor. If it’s a Zimmer Durom, be sure to sign nothing they send you, as you may have the right to join a class action law suit, even if your replacement has not yet failed.