Zimmer Knee Lawsuit Lawyer
Please note: Our law firm no longer accepts Zimmer Knee replacement cases.
At least two orthopedic surgeons have spoken out in regard to serious problems following use of the Zimmer Nex Gen CR Flex Replacement Knee. Dr. Richard Berger of Chicago and Dr. Lawrence Dorr of Los Angeles, both of whom have installed numerous Nex Gen CR Flex and other Zimmer knee products, believe that the high rate of failure for the Zimmer Nex Gen CR Flex Replacement Knee is unacceptable. Dr. Berger, who had worked successfully for and with Zimmer for many years as a surgeon and consultant, along with a colleague at Rush University in Chicago, Dr. Craig Della Valle, found that the Zimmer Nex Gen CR Flex knee has failed in nine of 108 cases, or 8.3 percent of the time, an unacceptable rate.
Zimmer has responded to criticism of the apparently high rate of Nex Gen CR Flex failures by blaming surgical technique, though the company had praised Dr. Berger’s surgical skills prior to his speaking out about the failure rate of the Zimmer Nex Gen CR Flex Replacement Knee. Meanwhile, Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa has written Zimmer for information regarding how the company tracks the failure rates of its different artificial knees.
Zimmer Nex Gen Knee Recall Information
In Dec. 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled a component of the Zimmer Nex Gen CR Flex Replacement Knee. The reason for the recall, the FDA said, is that the implant’s titanium portion may separate from the trabecular metal material. The titanium portion, essentially a rod, fits inside the hollowed-out femur, while the trabecular metal material is designed, at least in theory, to support bone formation better than previous knee replacements.
Zimmer Knee Lawsuit Information
If you or a loved one has experienced serious side effects from a Zimmer Nex Gen CR Flex Replacement Knee, you may qualify for compensation to help with the cost of your medical expenses as well as your pain and suffering. To contact a Zimmer Knee lawyer for a free consultation and Zimmer Knee lawsuit information, call Matthews and Associates toll free at 1-888-520-5202.
FDA Warning for Zimmer Nex Gen Knee
In March 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that Zimmer Nex Gen Knee implant issues could lead to early repair or early replacement. The metal in these implants can wear away and damage nearby tissue, the FDA found. Symptoms of the problem can include knee stiffness or instability, pain in the leg, hip or groin, swelling in the hip, and noticeable changes in the person’s gait.
What is a Zimmer Nex Gen CR Flex Knee ?
Most artificial knees rely on adhesives to bond or hold the contraption together, but many surgeons like to work without adhesives whenever possible. One version of the Zimmer Nex Gen Knee foregos adhesives in favor of letting the bone “naturally fuse” or bond with the implant. Therein, apparently, lies the heart of the problem. Unfortunately, the bond or fusion may not take, resulting in a loose implant, instability, pain and the need to repair or replace the knee replacement.
Zimmer:
- is the nation’s largest manufacturer of replacement hips and knees
- is based in Warsaw, Indiana
- avoided having the FDA conduct a study of the Nex Gen CR Flex Knee
- blames failures of the Nex Gen Knee on surgeons’ techniques
- paid Dr. Berger more than $8 million in ten years
Zimmer Nex Gen Knee Side Effects
While many Zimmer knee products have helped people, the Zimmer Nex Gen Knee Replacement has caused some people severe problems. Side effects include:
- Knee stiffness
- Knee pain
- Groin or hip pain
- Difficulty walking/gait changes
- More Zimmer Nex Gen Knee side effects
