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Posts Tagged ‘traditional hip replacement’

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Have you or anyone you know undergone hip replacement surgery? As American’s age, and want to remain healthy and active, many are turning to hip replacements as an option that helps them stay on the go, and free from pain.

These are operations that have been performed for almost forty years, and while invasive, have great results. With a standard replacement however, it will need to be replaced, usually within ten years. The Zimmer hip implant promised to change that, making hip replacement a viable option for younger seniors. However, their claims have not held up. This has led to a massive hip recall.

A hip replacement can be exactly what an older person needs to continue a healthy and active lifestyle without pain. As we age, parts of our body that are constantly under use and stress begin to wear. Because the average American is living such a long life on average, many of these parts start to wear out. One such part of the body is the hip joint. A hip joint that is not functioning properly can lead to large amounts of pain during normal, every day activities. That is why these joints are often replaced with they type of device that is part of the hip recall.

The hip recall is being caused by a device, manufactured by the Zimmer Durom company, that does not work in the way that it was promised. The Zimmer device was marketed to those needing a hip replacement at a younger age than is standard, in their late 50’s or early 60’s. With a traditional hip replacement, the device must be replaced every ten years, on average. For a younger patient, this can mean several difficult follow up surgeries. This device was therefore marketed with the promise that it would last a lifetime, without the need for replacement.

Unfortunately, the claims of longevity for the hip replacement proved to be false for many patients, leading to called for a hip recall. At one clinic where the devices were frequently used, twelve percent of patients needed to have the devices replaced surgically in less than two years. This is an extremely high rate. The Zimmer Durom company disputed this claim, saying that it must be caused by surgical error. However, in their own internal studies, the failure rate before two years was seven percent, which is still much higher than promised, and much worse than a traditional hip replacement. Because of these concerns, the product was pulled from the market in July 2008.

For those who have had a hip replacement, the time is now to call your doctor and ask if it was made by the Zimmer Durom company. If so, even if it does not need to be immediately replaced on the advice of your doctor, you may be able to join a class action suit against the company.