Personal Injury Law

More Problems with the Durom Cup Used in Hip Replacements

By Jamie Sheller

Zimmer Holdings, the largest producer of orthopedic devices in the United States, recently halted sales of a hip replacement implant which has been failing in unacceptably high numbers. The Durom Cup hip socket implant, introduced by Zimmer in 2006, has been implanted in more than 13,000 patients across the nation. Of those, doctors say that hundreds will most likely need to undergo more expensive and painful surgery to replace the replacement.

More than 5% of patients implanted with the Zimmer Durom Cup hip replacement experience serious problems, according to research conducted by the company and orthopedic surgeons. In these patients, the metal hip implant fails to bond properly with the existing bone structure. Instead, the metal socket loosens and separates, grinding painfully against bone as it moves.

Although Zimmer Holdings was alerted to problems with its Durom Cup hip replacement as early as 2007, it did not launch an investigation until April 2008, and did not cease its sales of the defective device until July 2008.

Because of the company's delay, even more unsuspecting patients were implanted with the faulty Durom Cup hip replacement. If you received Zimmer Durom Cup implants, you, like other patients, probably expected them to last 15 to 20 years before needing replacement. However, hundreds of people began experiencing excruciating pain due to their implants only months after surgery. If your Zimmer Durom Cup hip replacement has failed, you may need another round of surgery to remove and replace it.

Hip replacement surgery is a lengthy and expensive procedure, costing anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000.

If you have been implanted with a faulty Zimmer Durom Cup hip implant and are now facing extreme pain and expensive surgery, you owe it to yourself to speak with an attorney. An attorney can help you seek your rightful compensation from the company who is responsible for your suffering.

Full post as published by Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer on August 04, 2008 (boomark / email).