Approximately 130,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed every year in the United States. We are investigating potential lawsuits throughout the United States for claims on behalf of victims who received a Persona, or NexGen CR-Flex Zimmer-brand knee implant that is or may be defective. Two prominent Chicago surgeons are calling for a recall on Zimmer’s NexGen knee replacement implants.
The implants are associated with a high rate of failure, with one study observing that 36% of implants were loose within two years of surgery. This looseness may cause pain and may require subsequent knee replacement surgery. These Zimmer Knee Implant lawsuits will allege product liability, negligence and failure to warn claims against Zimmer, Inc. and Zimmer Holdings, Inc., the manufacturers.
Persona Defective Knee ImplantsThe defective Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex product is a Femoral Implant. The femoral implant is synthetic device used to cap the femur (the thigh bone) at the point where it connects to the tibia at the knee. It is made of porous fiber metal and a cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy, and is attached to the femur without cement, unlike many other traditional knee implants.
How Do Knee Implants Work?
Knee replacement surgery is typically recommended for patients who suffer from arthritis or extensive fractures. The following are the most common indications for surgery:
- Arthritis: this is inflammation of the knee joint which causes wear and tear on the knee cartilage.
- Osteoarthritis: this is the most common type of knee arthritis, and results in bone-on-bone contact at the knee joint.
In a total knee replacement surgery, surgeons remove the bone and cartilage on the end of the femur (thigh bone) and the shin bone (tibia). Devices, oftentimes made of plastic or metal, are then attached to the bones to create a new knee joint.
What Is Wrong With The Zimmer Knee Implants?The defective Zimmer Knee Implants, introduced in 2003, use a porous metal component. The exact reason for the failure of the device is not yet known. In other brands, cementless femoral components work fine. However, this is not the experience that surgeons are having with Zimmer’s products.
Two prominent Chicago orthopaedic surgeons, Dr. Richard Berger and Dr. Craig Della Valle from Rush University Medical Center, have been using the product for a number of years. Their experience shows that 36% of the implants were loose after two years, and 9.3% of the implants were either revised or scheduled to be revised because of looseness and associated pain. According to the doctors, “[t]his component is still commercially available but should not be used for any patient.”
Zimmer has sold over 150,000 of these implants since the product was released in 2003, and the NexGen products make up 2% of the $1.76 billion in sales from 2009. Zimmer claims that the Chicago surgeons simply implanted the devices incorrectly, which ignores the extensive experience of these orthopaedic professionals. Zimmer has not been receptive to Dr. Berger’s call for a voluntary recall.
What Is The Status Of The Zimmer Knee Implant Litigation?We are investigating Zimmer Persona claims. We suspect this will eventually become a full fledged class action MDL lawsuit.
Do I Have A Zimmer Knee Implant Claim?If you or a loved one has used Zimmer Knee Implants and experienced looseness, pain or discomfort from the implant, please call one of our Zimmer Knee Implant attorneys at 800-553-8082 or click here for a free no obligation consultation on your potential Zimmer Knee Implant lawsuit.
- Smith & Nephew Knee Replacements (the problem with metal-on-metal extends to Smith & Nephew)
- Stryker Hip Implant Settlements (an overview)
- Stryker lawsuits (are settlements far away?)
- Free Consultation (free evaluation of your case at 800-553-8082 or by email)
