In 2003 Zimmer Holdings, the world's largest orthopedic device manufacturer, introduced a hip replacement device in Europe. Known as the Zimmer Durom Cup Hip Implant, it was used successfully in over 12,000 surgeries prior to being marketed in the United States starting in 2006. For some reason, though, its success rate has been spotty at best in the U.S. with hundreds of patients requiring revision surgery to correct problems with their implants. Lawsuits have erupted, and Zimmer has halted sales of the device pending better training methods.
Physicians with lawsuits for faulty implant surgeries still hanging over their heads claim that the devices were defective which caused them to fail. Zimmer, however, cites its many successes in Europe and places blame on the surgeons for having too little training in the proper methods of performing the implant. With this problem in mind, Zimmer voluntarily shut down its U.S. sales of the device until they can make correct training available to American doctors. Still, there are a lot of surgeons who say they will not use the device again despite the fact that they are offered additional training.
Patients who suffer ill effects from surgical implants are protected by laws in most U.S. states which say they are entitled to compensation for the pain they endured, all of the extra medical bills they incurred, and the wages they have lost and stand to lose in the future. Under these laws, patients can be compensated if the orthopedic device used in the surgery can be proven to be at fault. With this in mind, hundreds of patients have now filed lawsuits against Zimmer as well as the surgeons who performed the operations. Both sides are still blaming the other, and the court battles are still raging.
Hip implants have been recorded as early as 1891 when surgeons used ivory fittings in an attempt to replace the femoral head. It wasn't until 1960, though, that a Burmese surgeon, Dr. San Baw, used ivory to try and replace broken hip bones which started the modern era of hip replacement surgery. During a 20-year period Dr. Baw did over 300 hip surgeries and claimed an 88% success rate.
When you look into the history of modern artificial hip joints, the name John Charnley is going to come up as a pioneer of these implants. During the 1970s he successfully developed a 3-part artificial hip joint that was used in some form for over 20 years. Then, in 2003, Zimmer Holdings marketed its newest device, the Zimmer Durom Cup implant, in Europe. The success rate of the device was so high that it soon came to be known as the best implant available.
There has been a vast improvement in both hip replacement devices and the surgical methods used to implant them in the years since the first procedures were performed, but the operation still has its problems. The most common problem patients with a Zimmer Durom Cup implant have is in the implant slipping. This occurs due to the fact that the implant is built smaller than the patient's original bones, and if it isn't inserted correctly, it can move around. In addition, the implant can sometimes loosen and infections can occur. In spite of the risks involved with this surgery, physicians still prefer that the patients who have serious problems with their hip joints undergo the procedure.
Zimmer can only hope to win the lawsuits that have been filed against it and be able to market their Durom Cup more successfully in the U.S. in the future. They still believe that their device can make a positive difference in the lives of many people if used correctly.
Physicians with lawsuits for faulty implant surgeries still hanging over their heads claim that the devices were defective which caused them to fail. Zimmer, however, cites its many successes in Europe and places blame on the surgeons for having too little training in the proper methods of performing the implant. With this problem in mind, Zimmer voluntarily shut down its U.S. sales of the device until they can make correct training available to American doctors. Still, there are a lot of surgeons who say they will not use the device again despite the fact that they are offered additional training.
Patients who suffer ill effects from surgical implants are protected by laws in most U.S. states which say they are entitled to compensation for the pain they endured, all of the extra medical bills they incurred, and the wages they have lost and stand to lose in the future. Under these laws, patients can be compensated if the orthopedic device used in the surgery can be proven to be at fault. With this in mind, hundreds of patients have now filed lawsuits against Zimmer as well as the surgeons who performed the operations. Both sides are still blaming the other, and the court battles are still raging.
Hip implants have been recorded as early as 1891 when surgeons used ivory fittings in an attempt to replace the femoral head. It wasn't until 1960, though, that a Burmese surgeon, Dr. San Baw, used ivory to try and replace broken hip bones which started the modern era of hip replacement surgery. During a 20-year period Dr. Baw did over 300 hip surgeries and claimed an 88% success rate.
When you look into the history of modern artificial hip joints, the name John Charnley is going to come up as a pioneer of these implants. During the 1970s he successfully developed a 3-part artificial hip joint that was used in some form for over 20 years. Then, in 2003, Zimmer Holdings marketed its newest device, the Zimmer Durom Cup implant, in Europe. The success rate of the device was so high that it soon came to be known as the best implant available.
There has been a vast improvement in both hip replacement devices and the surgical methods used to implant them in the years since the first procedures were performed, but the operation still has its problems. The most common problem patients with a Zimmer Durom Cup implant have is in the implant slipping. This occurs due to the fact that the implant is built smaller than the patient's original bones, and if it isn't inserted correctly, it can move around. In addition, the implant can sometimes loosen and infections can occur. In spite of the risks involved with this surgery, physicians still prefer that the patients who have serious problems with their hip joints undergo the procedure.
Zimmer can only hope to win the lawsuits that have been filed against it and be able to market their Durom Cup more successfully in the U.S. in the future. They still believe that their device can make a positive difference in the lives of many people if used correctly.
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Find out more about zimmer replacment at this website about: zimmer replacment. Or check out hip recall info.
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