Knee replacements have become one of the most common operations performed, as America’s population grows older on average, but continues to stay active. Knee replacement surgery was first performed in 1968; since then, more than 600,000 operations have been performed each year to replace knee joints damaged by arthritis or injury. For older adults who suffer from a variety of knee issues, knee replacements have become one of the best ways to preserve quality of life throughout the senior years. Knee replacements also benefit younger people who, for various reasons, must have orthopedic help to walk or engage in physical activity.
Zimmer NexGen CR-flex knee replacements gained popularity as the latest in high-technology devices used in knee replacements. The earlier Zimmer models, which have recently come under fire, required cementing to the bone for attachment. At first, this cementing process seemed effective, and patients were pleased at the pain reduction from the knee replacements.
However, a 2010 report by a prominent orthopedic surgeon pointed out that this particular model seemed to have a high incidence of failure during the first few years after placement. Normally, a high-flex knee replacement device could be expected to last for fifteen years; Zimmer’s NexGen CR-flex device was not living up to expectations in this regard, with many devices lasting a mere three years. The surgeon recommended that use of the defective Zimmer knee be discontinued; however, not only has the device never been recalled, but it is still widely used in knee replacement surgery.
Just how bad is the Zimmer problem? According to a study performed by Dr. Richard Berger of the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, at least 36 percent of patients who were implanted with the NexGen CR-flex device showed loosening of the device from the femur, the bone to which it attaches. In 8.3 percent of the recipients, the loosening was painful enough to convince them to undergo revision surgery, or surgery to correct the problems caused by the device. Given the often painful nature of knee replacement surgery, this would mean that the problems caused were severe indeed. However, many patients preferred a second round of surgery to the continuing problems caused by the defective knee replacement mechanism.
There is a growing outcry for Zimmer to address the problem of its knee replacement device. Dr. Berger, who was a consulting physician for Zimmer at one time, no longer works for the firm, and has been accused by Zimmer of incorrect surgical procedure in the placement of the knee devices. Given that Dr. Berger was the company’s expert during the development of the NexGen CR-flex model, this is odd, to say the least. Lawsuits have been filed by several firms against Zimmer for revision surgery costs as well as pain and suffering on the part of patients who have experienced problems with the Zimmer model. The Zimmer lawsuits are still in very early stages, so anyone who has experienced problems with the Zimmer knee replacement device should lose no time in contacting professional Zimmer attorneys to discuss the possibility of collecting damages.
