Monday, July 27, 2009

Zimmer Durom Hip Replacements Have High Failure Rate

By Maxwell Schmickman

Many American's receive joint replacements each year. It is a way for elderly people, and for those who have overused their joints, to get more years of activity and enjoyment out of their lives. Because this procedure has become so routine, many do not question their doctors, or the manufacturers of their joint replacements about the quality of the technology that they are using. This has led to practices that can actually cause injury to you or your loved ones. If you know someone who has received a hip replacement, read on for this important information about the manufacturer Zimmer Durom.

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 has been taking place since the 1970's, which is why the idea may seem so commonplace to you. A hip replacement, such as those from Zimmer Durom, most commonly involves three separate pieces, designed to mimic how a natural knee joint would. They include a metal replacement for part of the femur. A component which allows for movement like the joint naturally would, and either bone cement or screws to hold the contraption in place.

For those who have had rip replacement, a large fear is needing the replacement replaced. It can cause serious complications in the ability to walk, and is a painful and long process. The Zimmer Durom was designed to avoid that, so that young hip replacement patients could have the one device for the rest of their lives. However, in one clinic, 12 percent of patients needed further replacement surgery in two years, which means the Zimmer Durom device does not work at all how it should. When this information was released, it caused an outcry among doctors.

Though Zimmer Durom has stated that this high failure rate is a caused by surgon error, they stopped selling their hip replacement device in July 2008. In a study funded by the company, fully 8 percent of patients needed a revision within two years. This has led many in the medical and legal communities to believe that the issue is with the replacement device and not with the surgeons.

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.

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