Texas Zimmer Hip Lawyer
About the Zimmer Durom Cup Implant
The Zimmer Durom hip implant cup has been implanted in over 12,000 patients since it was first sold in the United States in 2006. The Durom Acetabular Component is a monoblock cup made of cobal chromium alloy, which is made from a single piece of material. It is designed for use in combination with Zimmer's Metasul Metal-on-Metal Tribological Solution LDH (Large Diameter Heads). To read more about the letters issued by Zimmer, Inc. discussing the complaints they received, please click on the following documents:
Zimmer Durom Surgeon Letter, May 29, 2008
Zimmer Durom Background on Status, July 22, 2008
Houston Law Firm - Zimmer Hip Implant Recall
If you received a Zimmer hip implant in 2006, 2007 or 2008, please complete the Zimmer Durom Hip Implant Questionnaire as soon as possible; or contact Zimmer hip implant defect lawyer W. Craft Hughes by calling toll-free 888-350-3931 for a free case evaluation. You may also send an e-mail or click here to complete our online case evaluation form.
The Zimmer Durom hip prosthesis cup was designed for use in young, active patients who are likely to outlive a conventional hip prosthesis. Unfortunately, patients receiving this defective hip implant device often experienced crippling pain following surgery, leaving them more disabled than they had been before their hip replacement surgery. It is estimated that a large percentage of patients receiving the Zimmer Durom hip system will need to undergo additional hip revision surgery to have this defective hip component replaced.
Over 5% of patients implanted with the Zimmer Durom Cup hip replacement experience serious problems, according to research conducted by the company and orthopedic surgeons. In these patients, the metal hip implant fails to bond properly with the existing bone structure. Instead, the metal socket loosens and separates, grinding painfully against bone as it moves.
Although Zimmer Holdings was alerted to problems with its Durom Cup hip replacement as early as 2007, it did not launch an investigation until April 2008, and did not cease its sales of the defective device until July 2008.
Because of the company's delay, even more unsuspecting patients were implanted with the faulty Zimmer Durom Cup hip replacement. Defective hip implant lawyer W. Craft Hughes believes that Zimmer should be held responsible for its actions and lack of concern for its customers.
The Cost of a Defective Zimmer Hip Implant
If you received Zimmer Durom Cup implant, you, like other patients, probably expected the implant to last 15 to 20 years before needing replacement. However, hundreds of people began experiencing excruciating pain due to their implants only months after surgery. If your Zimmer Durom Cup hip replacement has failed, you may need another round of surgery to remove and replace it.
Hip replacement surgery is a lengthy and expensive procedure, costing anywhere from $30,000.00 to $40,000.00. The law firm of Hughes Ellzey, LLP, understands that such a procedure is no small investment. We believe the financial burden for your medical care should fall on Zimmer, the company whose actions have caused you so much pain.
Patients who have endured a Zimmer hip surgery between 2006 and 2008 receiving a Zimmer hip system or Zimmer implant now qualify to participate in the Zimmer implant recall and reimbursement program. If you, a friend or a family member received any Zimmer implants, Zimmer joint replacement, Zimmer hip, Zimmer hip resurfacing procedure, Zimmer hip arthroplasty, Zimmer hip joint, Zimmer hip prosthesis, Zimmer hip replacement, or Zimmer hip stem, and subsequently suffered from a Zimmer hip failure, post hip replacement complications, total hip replacement complications, total hip replacement failure may qualify to file a Zimmer Durom cup hip implant claim, Zimmer hip lawsuit, Durom claim or Zimmer hip replacement lawsuit relating to the Zimmer hip recall, Zimmer hip replacement problems, hip recall, hip prosthesis recall and Zimmer hip replacement recall. Several Zimmer lawsuits have already been filed nationwide relating to the Zimmer recalls, and the deadline for filing your claim could be near. Please contact our office immediately to speak with Zimmer hip lawyer W. Craft Hughes about your claim now by calling toll-free 888-350-3931.
Chronology of the Zimmer Durom Cup Hip Implant
2006 - The Zimmer Durom Cup hip implant is introduced. A metal hip socket replacement originally designed for a 15 to 20 year lifespan to accommodate young, active patients, the Durom Cup implant begins to show signs of trouble not long after its debut.
2007 - Prominent orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Dorr, alerts Zimmer Holdings, the implant's manufacturer, after noticing that the Zimmer hip replacement implant has an abnormally high failure rate. Dr. Larry Dorr states that many of his patients return to his office complaining of extreme pain only months after undergoing hip replacement surgery. Despite Dr. Dorr's extensive experience, Zimmer Holdings blames the implant failures on Dorr's surgical technique and brushes the warning aside.
April 22, 2008 - Dr. Larry Dorr, a world renowned orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Dorr Institute for Arthritis Research and Education, goes public (Dr. Dorr letter) with his concerns by writing the following letter to his colleagues at the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons warning of the failures and defects associated with Zimmer's Durom hip cup:
"This NOTICE is to inform you that we have had ten revisions in 165 hips and have four more that need to be revised using the Durom cup.
This failure rate has occurred within the first two years. In the first year the x-rays looked perfect. We have revised four that did not have any radiolucent lines or migration (and John Moreland revised one). These early cups fooled us, but the symptoms were so classic for a loose implant that we operated the patients. When we hit on the edge of the cup it would just pop free. As time goes by the cups begin developing radiolucent lines. We now have one cup at two years that has actually migrated a short distance. It has tilted into varus. We do not believe the fixation surface is good on these cups. Also there is a circular cutting surface on the periphery of the cup that we believe prevents the cup from fully seating. We stopped using the cup after the first revisions.
We have notified Zimmer. The FDA has been notified and we will notify them of our continued revisions. The company does not believe it should pull the cup from the market so I am notifying all of my colleagues of our failure rate with this cup. I went through a similar scenario with the Sulzer cup failures where I was the only one experiencing revisions at the beginning and basically it was assumed that it was our technique. I can assure you that this goes beyond technique. I learned my lesson in not informing everyone about this magnitude of failures with the Sulzer cup problem, so it is my obligation to do so with this cup."
The FDA has been notified of the significant failure rate with the Durom hip cup, and some analysts have suggested that a recall of the Durom hip implant may be necessary.
July 22, 2008 - Zimmer Holdings issued an URGENT DEVICE CORRECTION announcing it was suspending sales of the Durom Cup hip implant component due to a high number of patient complaints (Zimmer hip replacement recall).
Take Action Today
Zimmer hip Attorney W. Craft Hughes is aggressively investigating and reviewing hip defect cases where patients have experienced failures, complications, and problems involving the Zimmer Durom hip replacement cups. People affected by this faulty implant may be entitled to compensation in a court of law and are encouraged to contact attorney W. Craft Hughes by calling toll-free 1-888-350-3931 immediately for a free consultation. You may also send an e-mail.
Typically in order to properly review a case, we will need (1) the operative reports for the original joint replacement surgery and the revision surgery, and (2) the device record for the original surgery from the hospital chart (this shows the product and lot numbers of the components of the device), and the revision surgery. We also prefer to have the Durom hip resurfacing cup. Therefore, it is essential that you get possession of the Durom cup as soon as it is removed.
If you or someone you know has had a Durom hip cup surgically implanted and believe it has failed, was defective, needs to be removed, or has already been revised, then please contact Zimmer hip lawyer W. Craft Hughes for a free case evaluation. Zimmer Attorney W. Craft Hughes can assist you in determining whether your hip implant is the Zimmer Durom implant that was recalled. Please click here to complete our online case evaluation form.
Useful Links and Articles:
The Complete List of Zimmer Durom Hip Replacement Product Numbers
New York Times Article - Complaints Undermine Hip Device (July 24, 2008)
Useful Mailing Addresses and Contact Information:
Hughes Ellzey, LLP
Attorney W. Craft Hughes
333 Clay Street, Suite #4720
Three Allen Center
Houston, TX 77002
Phone (888) 350-3931
Fax (888) 995-3335
E-mail
U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Consumer questions about medical devices - Please direct all questions and comments to: DSMICA@CDRH.FDA.GOV or write to us at:
FDA Consumer Staff
CDRH / FDA
1350 Piccard Drive, HFZ-210
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone 1-800-638-2041 or 240-276-3103 directly between the hours of 8:00a.m. - 4:30p.m. (EST)
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