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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.

In hip replacement surgery, the femur and the hip joint are removed, and are replaced with artificial parts. In the past, these parts have often been subject to wear and tear, and have had to be replaced themselves, which can be difficult to an elderly patient to take. The Zimmer Durom hip cup was invented for the purpose of allowing young, active seniors who needed a hip replacement to get only one, that was designed to last the rest of their lives. Unfortunately for thousands of people, this promise has not held true.

The Zimmer Durom Hip Cup, marketed as a solution to the wear and tear that can happen to a hip replacement, is actually very prone to needing replacement itself. At one hospital, fully 12 percent of those who received these replacements needed another surgery to replace the Durom hip cup within two years, a staggering amount, especially when the hip replacement is supposed to last for a lifetime. A doctor at the hospital complained to the Zimmer Durom company, and was told the issue was with 'surgeon error.'

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 or a loved one have received a hip replacement, now is the time to ask your doctor if it involved the Zimmer Durom hip cup. If it did, you may have the right to sue, even if your replacement has not yet failed. Ask your doctor today.

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