Problems with Zimmer Hip Implants Lead to Lawsuits

If you're of a certain age, it's likely that you or someone you know has needed to have a joint replaced. As American's life longer, it becomes a much more common procedure that allows us to lead the active, healthy lives that we want to, even as our natural joints wear out, which can cause pain and disability. One of the most common joints that must be replaced is the hip joint.

Joints that were designed to work for forty years are now being called upon to operate for much longer. For many patients, this means that a joint replacement is needed, such as a hip replacement. If you know someone who has had a hip replacement, or have had one yourself, read on to find out more information about a recall of the Zimmer hip implant.

As we get older, our bodies of course don't work the way that they used to. What used to be an easy task becomes a difficult one, and we feel more pain than we used to. But for some older Americans, this pain becomes debilitating, especially around their hips. This means that normal activities such as walking can be unbearably painful. It is for these people that Zimmer hip implants were targeted. By replacing their old, worn joint, the pain can be lessened considerably, or even ended, and they can get back to their normal, active lives.

For an older patient, in their late 60's or early 70's, a hip replacement can be a great new lease on life, allowing them to do their own errands, care for themselves, and enjoy life again. Because the replacement is mechanical, it also needs to be replaced, usually within ten years of implantation. For the oldest patients, this is no concern, but for a patient in their 50's or early 60's, it's likely that they will live much longer than that 10 years, and face the prospect of another difficult surgery. The Zimmer hip implant was marketed to these patients with the promise that it was long lasting, and wouldn't need replacement.

Unfortunately, the claim that the Zimmer hip implant is long lasting have not held true. In fact, at one test clinic, the implants failed in 12 percent of patients within the first two years. This is an astounding failure rate, and much worse than that of conventional replacements. It also means that for a young patient, given this implant with the promise of less likely future surgery, they in fact faced immediate further surgery, with the prospect of even more in the future!

The Zimmer Durom Company denies that their Zimmer hip implant is prone to failure. But in their internal testing, seven percent of patients needed the replacement replaced within two years. This is still an astounding rate of failure. It was enough for the company to pull the product in July 2008. If you have had a hip replacement, ask your doctor if it's a Zimmer hip implant. If it was, and you have problems, you could be able to sue.