The Future Of Zimmer Knee Lawsuits To Be Decided In Illinois

All federal lawsuits over problems with Zimmer NexGen recall have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, which will be centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Following oral arguments last month, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued an order on Monday establishing the MDL, which will result in the transfer of dozens of Zimmer NexGen knee implant lawsuits currently pending in federal district courts throughout the United States. In addition, all future lawsuits will be transferred to the MDL as they are filed by Zimmer knee lawyer who are continuing to review claims for individuals throughout the country.

The NexGen MIS Tibial component is marketed and promoted as compatible with the LPS-Flex and CR-Flex femoral components and they are often used together. According to the motion, of the 28 cases now pending against Zimmer, many are a combination of a NexGen high-flex and NexGen MIS tibial. Zimmer obtained approval for the Zimmer NexGen recall components through the FDA’s controversial 510(k) approval process,

Judicial Panel Claims Zimmer Knee’s “High-Flex” Shows No Improvement

All federal lawsuits over problems with Zimmer NexGen knee replacements have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, which will be centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.Following oral arguments last month, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued an order on Monday establishing the MDL, which will result in the transfer of dozens of Zimmer NexGen knee implant Zimmer knee lawsuit. The panel indicated that there are currently 28 cases that will be transferred into the MDL, and there appear to be at least 45 related claims pending that may be included in the MDL as well. In addition, all future lawsuits will be transferred to the MDL as they are filed by Zimmer knee lawyer who are continuing to review claims for individuals throughout the country.

Zimmer opposed consolidation of the lawsuits, arguing that it will not promote the efficient litigation of the cases, as there are at least eight different artificial Zimmer knee problems products made by the company that are included in various lawsuits.

Various Zimmer Knee Products Listed in Lawsuits

A number of Zimmer NexGen recall replacement recalls have been issued and problems have been linked to other NexGen replacement knee components. As a result of defective designs, individuals throughout the United States may have been exposed to an increased risk of loosening or early failure, often resulting in the need for Zimmer knee revision surgery. More than 200,000 potentially defective Zimmer NexGen knee replacement components may have been used throughout the United States, which could have caused thousands of people to experience problems or require additional knee revision surgery due to early failure of their knee replacement.

All federal lawsuits over problems with Zimmer knee recall replacements have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, which will be centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 

Zimmer Lower’s Revenue Estimates While Lawsuits Rage In Court

Back in July, Zimmer Holdings predicted its sales revenues to increase between 2.5% and 3.5%. The Company reported revenues of $4.220 billion for fiscal 2010. According toestimates, analysts were expecting the Company to report EPS of $4.77 on revenues of $4.473 billion for fiscal 2011. Since July of this year, Zimmer stock has been steadily sinking to the tune of about $15 per share or 22%. Zimmer has had a rough year on many fronts, not the least of which is the ever increasing number of lawsuits building against its knee and hip replacements. Since 2003, more than 200,000 Zimmer NexGen recall knee replacement components have been sold within the United States.

Following reports of at least 114 Zimmer knee complications, the manufacturer issued a recall for Zimmer NexGen MIS Tibial Components, NextGen TM Tibial Trays, NexGen MIS Modular Tibial Plates and Keels. The Zimmer NexGen MIS Zimmer knee recall affected more than 68,000 knee components that were distributed throughout the United States.Several months prior to the recall,

Zimmer Durom Cup MDL Could be Most Costly in History

The Zimmer Durom Cup is the component most often cited in Zimmer hip litigation, and it is theorized that as many as 12,000 plaintiffs could join the ever-growing Zimmer litigation. Settlements will depend on the amount of suffering and the nature of the side effect a plaintiff has had to endure as well as the number of patients involved.The Zimmer Durom Cup hip implant was first introduced in the United States in 2006, with a design that was supposed to avoid many problems associated with traditional hip replacement components. However, shortly after it was introduced, concerns emerged about a high number of Zimmer hip replacement recall failures involving the Durom Cup, where the component loosened and required Zimmer hip revision surgery.

No Zimmer hip settlements are expected until late 2011 or 2012 as the Zimmer hip MDL proceeds. While Zimmer’s own estimates in 2008 suggested that some doctors experienced failure rates as high as 5.7%, some claims have suggested that the between 20% and 30% of people may experience Zimmer Durom Cup hip problems.

Zimmer Hip Implant Failure Leads to More and More Lawsuits

Approximately 12,000 individuals had the Zimmer Durom Cup Zimmer hip implant failure between 2006 and 2008. While Zimmer’s own estimates in 2008 suggested that some doctors experienced failure rates as high as 5.7%, some claims have suggested that the between 20% and 30% of people may experience problems with a Zimmer Durom Cup hip.Zimmer press releases indicated that many U.S. surgeons had had success implanting the cup, but a subset of patients had experienced "elevated revision rates" since the product’s launch, contrasting with “excellent” clinical outcomes reported by surgeons in Europe.  The device is more often used in hip resurfacing procedures in Europe.

Zimmer Inc., recognizing the potential legal risk regarding the controversial hip, has set aside more than $40 million to cover the exposure resulting in the defective medical device.The class representative plaintiff in a class action Zimmer Hip Lawsuit against Zimmer,is Susan Wilkinson, who began experiencing pain and problems from her Zimmer hip implant only three months after she received it in April 2008. She subsequently had to undergo Zimmer hip revision surgery in 2009 to have the Durom Cup removed.In the United States, a temporary Zimmer Durom Cup recall was issued in July 2008,

Zimmer Knee Lawsuits Finally Consolidated

Zimmer, one of the nation’s largest orthopedic manufacturing companies, stands by the claim that the NexGen family of products—over 40 models of knee replacement systems—have one of the lowest failure rates and rates of Zimmer knee revision surgery out of all the knee revision products in the industry. A number of patients of the Zimmer NexGen recall CR-Flex device may beg to differ, however. A number of lawsuits filed across the country are pointing fingers at the orthopedics company, claiming that their devices have resulted in knee problems such as trouble standing, walking, and enjoying the same quality of life as they used to. Patients have also complained of severe knee pain and knee replacement failure. These conditions often lead to knee revision surgery.

Knee revision surgery is at the heart of a number of Zimmer lawsuits, which have been recently combined in multidistrict litigation by Zimmer knee lawyer. Knee revision surgery is a second surgery, which can be both costly and painful, that is intended to remove a faulty or defective knee replacement device and fit the patient with a new one that will hopefully cause fewer problems.

Knee Replacement Recall For Zimmer, Backed Up By Research

More than 150,000 Zimmer NexGen CR and Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex Porous Femoral implants have been sold since 2003, and some doctors have reported experiencing a substantially higher-than-expected rate of Zimmer knee failures within a few years of surgery using these implants. This Zimmer NexGen knee has a “high-flex” porous femoral component that attaches to the bottom of the thighbone instead of using cement to keep the knee replacements in place. The high-flexion (hi-flex) knee implants, which promise a higher range of motion than traditional devices, and are generally used in younger, more active patients, but this appears to mean these patients more often require Zimmer knee revision surgery. Hi-flex knee replacement surgery requires that more bone at the back of the knee be removed so

Zimmer Knee Failure More Common than Should Be

Almost nine percent of patients of Zimmer’s NexGen knee replacement system have experienced knee replacement failure after their implant was installed, a number which has sent shockwaves through the medical community and which most medical experts think is unreasonable. Patients are suffering far more than they had ever expected – in many cases, side effects of Zimmer knee failure mimic the conditions that prompted them to get a knee replacement operation in the first place. In any case, the symptoms are painful and can include swelling and diminishment of the ability to walk and properly move around.

Future Of Knee Replacement Can Seem Fearful Due To Defective Zimmer Implants

Some 76 million baby boomers are getting older, and that means more physical problems for more people. Will this mean that there will be more implant device complications, such as the seemingly common Zimmer knee replacement failures, though? The AAOS says that in 2006 there were more than 1 million hip and knee replacement surgeries performed in the U.S. Of those, 7.5% were revision surgeries. The 77,000 procedures to replace or repair defective or poorly installed artificial hip and knee joints added $32 billion to the cost of medical care. The AAOS says that the registry costs about $20 to $25 million to launch.

In August, a DePuy ASR hip implant recall was issued for about 93,000 artificial hips after it was discovered that about 12% to 13% of the individuals who received the hip implant had their device fail within five years. Many DePuy ASR lawsuits have been filed on behalf of individuals who received the implant, alleging that doctors were expressing concerns to DePuy about a higher-than-expected failure rate for the metal hip system before the recall. This Zimmer NexGen knee has

Zimmer CEO Boasts of Gains, US Patients Complain of Pains

About 350 components used as part of Zimmer NexGen knee replacements were quietly recalled last year because some were found to have nonconforming and inconsistent geometry. This, however, has not affected their bottom line, as a recent financial report on Zimmer saw them beating analyst’s predictions. CEO David Dvorak recently stated that, “Our results reflect improved sales execution in support of new product introductions across our diverse geographic channels, as well as the positive impact of operational improvement initiatives and continued disciplined capital deployment." Some see this as a move by the company to generate revenue from area’s where their reputation has not been hurt by the recalls issued against them.

In 2010, Zimmer quietly issued recalls for Zimmer NexGen knee replacement components that may have been used in thousands of individuals throughout the United States. Following reports of at least 114 Zimmer NexGen knee replacement problems, the manufacturer issued a recall for Zimmer NexGen MIS Tibial Components, NextGen TM

Zimmer Knee Study Doesn’t Look Good for Manufacturers

The Food and Drug Administration recently commissioned a study on the effectiveness of the FDA’s pre-market approval process for artificial joints such as the Zimmer NexGen and DePuy ASR and DePuy Pinnacle systems. The results of this study are about to be released – while, at the same time, proponents of the orthopedics industry are rushing to negate the impact of the results of the study before they are even published. It is likely that the study will recommend harsher regulations for the approval of new knee implant devices. The Food and Drug Administration is currently using a program that can “fast track” the medical device approval process, which has resulted in several products currently on the market which have a high rate of premature knee failure and other knee implant complications, including the Zimmer NexGen system.

The study, conducted by the Institute of Medicine, will likely have an impact on the way new medical devices are approved for use across the country. This could cut the risks for complications experienced by hundreds – even thousands – of patients, and will also likely reduce the number of patients having to undergo Zimmer knee revision surgery after experiencing knee implant failure. Knee revision surgery is a painful, complicated, and expensive procedure that is intended to fix problems associated with a knee implant failure in a patient.

Zimmer CEO Boasts of Gains, US Patients Complain of Pains

About 350 components used as part of Zimmer NexGen knee replacements were quietly recalled last year because some were found to have nonconforming and inconsistent geometry. This, however, has not affected their bottom line, as a recent financial report on Zimmer saw them beating analyst’s predictions. CEO David Dvorak recently stated that, “Our results reflect improved sales execution in support of new product introductions across our diverse geographic channels, as well as the positive impact of operational improvement initiatives and continued disciplined capital deployment." Some see this as a move by the company to generate revenue from area’s where their reputation has not been hurt by the recalls issued against them.

In 2010, Zimmer quietly issued recalls for Zimmer NexGen knee replacement components that may have been used in thousands of individuals throughout the United States. Following reports of at least 114 Zimmer NexGen knee replacement problems, the manufacturer issued a recall for Zimmer NexGen MIS Tibial Components, NextGen TM Tibial Trays, NexGen MIS Modular Tibial Plates and Keels. The Zimmer NexGen MIS knee recall affected more than 68,000 knee components that were distributed throughout the United

Zimmer Runs Strong Despite Knee Breakdown

Zimmer Holdings represented the leading company providing knee replacement implants in 2010 with a 26% market share. This news comes, despite the findings that show that 36 percent of the Zimmer knee replacements showed signs of loosening after two years. Since the Zimmer NexGen knee replacement system has been on the market, almost a quarter of a million people in the US alone have had Zimmer knee implants. However, the Zimmer knee replacement, namely theNexGen CR-Flex Porous Femoral component, has recently been linked to a variety of problems, from loosening of the implant to failure of the replacement knee, requiring Zimmer knee revision surgery.

Zimmer NexGen Knee In Danger of High Rate of Failure

More than 200,000 potentially defective Zimmer NexGen knee replacement components may have been used throughout the United States, which could have caused thousands of people to experience problems or require additional Zimmer knee revision surgery due to early failure of their knee replacement. In March 2010, data was presented at a conference of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons by several prominent knee surgeons that suggested some Zimmer NexGen components may have a higher-than-expected failure rate. Surgeons reported that nearly 9% of cases they reviewed involving the use of the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex Porous Femoral components resulted in revision surgery within two years and more than a third showed signs of loosening.

Zimmer Knee Lawyers Look to Illinois as Possible Litigation Center

Many patients of the Zimmer NexGen knee replacement system who have experienced associated complications such as Zimmer Knee failure and knee revision surgery are looking for compensation from orthopedics giant Zimmer, compensation which could help cover costs associated with complications. Damages or settlement money could help a patient handle medical bills, costs associated with revision surgery, lost wages, and loss of quality of life. At last report, there were 28 Zimmer NexGen lawsuits making their way through courts across the country, and some legal experts estimate that more than 200 could be added in the coming months.

Zimmer Knee Revision Surgery: Grounds for Legal Action?

Patients of Zimmer’s popular NexGen knee replacement system could be seeking legal action as more and more reports surface of the possible connection between the artificial joint and knee revision surgery, a complex and risky medical procedure. Zimmer knee revision surgery occurs when a knee replacement system experiences failure, and seeks to revise or replace the failed joint. However, it is complicated by issues such as scar tissue and damage to the bone around the joint from previous surgeries and the joint failure itself, making the procedure risky and increasing healing and rehabilitation time.

Zimmer Knee Implant Lawsuits Filed Over Looseness

The Zimmer NexGen LPS “high-flex” components are designed to allow a greater degree of flexion than the standard femoral component. However, plaintiffs allege that higher flexation places the knee replacement at a higher risk of loosening. In recent weeks, at least three product liability lawsuits have been filed by individuals who experienced problems with Zimmer NexGen LPS knee replacements, alleging that they required revision surgery after the artificial replacement knee systems began to loosen or fail. Experienced Zimmer knee lawyers and plaintiffs have indicated that the device maker created the image and impression that using the Zimmer NexGen knee was safe, despite the fact that the manufacturer had previous knowledge of serious injuries associated with the components.

Dr. Richard Berger Could Save Patients Money with New Procedure

Dr. Richard Berger has revolutionized knee replacement surgery by developing a minimally invasive method of replacing these invaluable joints. As a result of Dr. Berger’s surgical method his patients experience greatly reduced pain and dramatically reduced recovery time compared with patients undergoing traditional hip and knee replacement surgery. In fact most of Dr. Berger’s patients are able to leave the hospital the same day of their joint replacement surgery. This should cut the patients recovery time, spent in a hospital, by%80 and, therefore, save the millions of people who undergo knee replacements surgery every year millions of dollars over all. However, there has been an alarmingly high failure rate of Zimmer knee replacement devices, requiring patients to undergo Zimmer knee revision surgery, which is a lengthy and painful process.

Studies Raise Serious Concern Over NexGen Knee

A 2010 study of 108 patients with Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee replacements found that the device had a failure rate of 9.3%, while 36% of patients fitted with the Zimmer knee replacement experienced significant loosening of the device. Many patients require a second surgery, a Zimmer knee revision surgery, which is a painful, lengthy process. According to the data collected by the knee specialists who conducted the study, the complications that occurred in Zimmer knee replacements were not related to the surgeon, surgical procedure, or type of patient. Last summer, the New York Times reported on two physicians, Dr. Berger and Dr. Della Valle, from Rush Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Berger was a former consultant of Zimmer who implanted a number of flex knees. However, he found an unacceptably high rate of failure of nearly 10% and the need for Zimmer replacements for the flex knees. If Berger's estimates are accurate, then there could be thousands of Zimmer replacements needed in the future.

Defendants Likely Oppose Zimmer Knee Multidistrict Litigation

Although a statement has not yet been released by the company, it is likely that orthopedic device manufacturer Zimmer will oppose a recent motion filed with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation looking to consolidate Zimmer knee lawsuits into a multidistrict litigation case. The motion, which was filed on June 7th by the lawyer for Zimmer knee plaintiff Fred Stone, would be beneficial to plaintiffs if it were to be passed.

Lawyers Investigate Zimmer Knee Failure Cases

Experienced Zimmer knee lawyers have been reviewing potential claims for over a year on behalf of individuals who have experienced problems with a Zimmer knee replacement. Individuals may be entitled to compensation and benefits through a Zimmer NexGen knee replacement recall lawsuit as a result of the manufacturer’s failure to adequately test and research their device or warn about the risk of problems.

Zimmer Knee Recall Affects Hundreds

During the 2010 meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons a prominent knee surgeon announced thata study he had conducted showed a high rate of Zimmer knee failure. The Zimmer NexGen device seemed to be related to side effects like component loosening, pain, and difficulty walking in an extraordinary number of patients. Based on this, he advised other surgeons not to use the Zimmer device in their surgeries.

Zimmer Knee Failure Rates Increasing

In 2008, Zimmer Holdings, Inc., a medical device maker who is considered a leader in the field of hip and knee replacements, issued a public Zimmer knee recall on its NEXGEN MIS Total Knee System. MIS means minimally invasive surgery. The Zimmer recall occurred after the device appeared to potentially have broken during surgeries leaving fragments of metal in patients’ knees. Later, Zimmer clarified the recall by citing that the minimally invasive surgery instrument was what was recalled not the knee implant itself.
More recently, a study was published that suggested that this particular NexGen implant itself was failing at a high rate. The publication was titled, “The High Failure Rate of a High-Flex Total Knee Arthroplasty Design”. Since it was brought to market, more than 150,000 of these implants have been sold, and new data suggests that while they were originally projected to last around 15 years, a large percentage have failed in three years or less. Zimmer knee failure rates are increasing in high numbers.
This past March, the results of a study were presented at an American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons conference that indicated that 36 percent of NexGen patients examined after two years showed signs of the replacement loosening. Indeed, the Australian National Joint Replacement Registry reported 120 revision procedures on Zimmer recipients since 2004. In the face of these data, Zimmer Holdings claims surgeons negligently implanted the devices or chose the used the wrong devices for their patients. This has raised a problem in that a recall was never officially requested outside of the company, leading many to take legal action without knowing where the blame lies. Victims of Zimmer knee failure should contact an experienced Zimmer knee lawyer as soon as possible to ensure proper representation in filing a lawsuit.

Zimmer Knee Lawsuit, Possible Recall

Zimmer Inc. is acting both as plaintiff and defendant in various lawsuits taking place in state and federal courts across the country. The first cases were those that patients of their Zimmer knee replacement device filed when they experienced serious side effects associated with the joint replacement device, including pain and swelling as well as difficulty walking. Zimmer patients, understandably upset about these side effects, have been filing lawsuits against the medical device manufacturers in order to gain some kind of compensation for their injuries. Compensation of this type will help take care of medical
bills, wages lost, and other costs related to these Zimmer knee side effects.

Surgeons Blame Knee Replacement Failures on Manufacturers

In March 2010, during a conference of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, at least two knee replacement surgeons provided data suggesting the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex Knee Replacement failure rate may possibly be as high as nine percent (9%) — far too high for a knee replacement device. The lead author of the study, Dr. Richard Berger, reported that the rate of failure for these cementless Zimmer knee replacements were "unacceptably high."  When the research was conducted, researchers were monitoring 108 knee replacement surgeries where the surgeons were using a Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee replacement device.  They discovered that 9 of those patients had to have Zimmer knee revision surgery.

Zimmer NexGen Knee Failures Create Painful Complications

Patients suffering from a NexGen knee failure are continuing to look at their legal options including being part of a Zimmer NexGen knee lawsuit.  Total knee replacements have been around for some time now, and are largely considered a success. 85%-90% of total knee replacements are expected to last for up to 10 years or even longer. However, some recipients of the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex implant are experiencing a loosening and NexGen knee failure, sometimes within the first two years of surgery.

In September 2010, the tibial portion of the Zimmer CR-Flex implant was recalled. People are coming forward and reporting serious problems with their implants, often requiring a second revision surgery. Some of the symptoms of loosening include an unusual stiffness in the knee, persistent pain, loss in range of motion and a general inability for the knee to support any resistance. While loosening can occur in either cemented or non-cemented version on a knee implant, in an uncemented implant the situation can be quite serious. This can lead to soft tissue damage and affect the blood supply.

A loose knee implant causes pain whenever the patient attempts to walk. This problem will worsen as the bone of the joint continues to deteriorate. For this reason, those who suffer from loosening of their NexGen knee implants must have them removed through knee revision surgery. Patients who have received the NexGen knee implants continue to complain about premature loosening and joint pain and the scrutiny has caused those not experience pain yet, to worry about the possibility of a breakdown to come soon.

Zimmer Seems Unfazed By Knee Problems

Although several lawsuits against them are currently being evaluated by personal injury lawyers, billion-dollar company Zimmer Holdings does not seem to be showing too much damage from allegations that their knee replacement systems are fallible and manufactured poorly. The company, which is the fourth largest orthopedic and spine device manufacturer in the world, is based in Warsaw, Indiana and reported profits of $4.2 billion in 2010 despite reports of failure associated with one of their popular products.
DePuy Orthopedics, Stryker, and Medtronic companies are all ahead of Zimmer in revenue. Each of these United States-based companies is facing its own set of public relations issues having to do with the effectiveness of or complications related to some of their products, much like Zimmer.

Zimmer Knee Problems Could Result in Recall

Several patients who have experienced side effects related to defective Zimmer knee implants have filed or are considering filing lawsuits against Zimmer, which, if won, could provide them with compensation that could help cover medical bills, lost wages, costs related to ongoing or future treatment, and other expenses. Zimmer Inc. is one of the biggest medical device manufacturers in the world, and the fact that problems have been detected in several components they manufacture could be a staggering blow to the company.

Zimmer Knee Revision Surgery is Painful, Complicated

Many plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Zimmer Holdings based on the apparently high failure rate of their Zimmer CR-Flex knee replacement systems. Certain models of the implant have been reported to fuse to the femur, resulting loosening of the implant and failure of the device. Many patients who have experienced this needed to undergo knee revision surgery in order to correct the problem – and because of the complications and costs associated with revision surgery, many plaintiffs in the Zimmer knee lawsuit case have been among those whose device failure resulted in the surgery.

Zimmer Knee Replacement Failure Proven in Many

The side effects of Zimmer knee replacements have long been known by patients of the implant – pain and difficulty moving sometimes require Zimmer knee revision surgery – as they are the ones who have suffered through difficulty and side effects, sometimes starting as soon as the patient receives the implant. Now these patients are finally getting some recognition from the medical community, namely Doctors Richard Berger and Craig J. Della, who presented their study which associated Zimmer knee replacements with high rates of knee implant failure. The most commonly affected system was the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee implant.

Zimmer Knee Lawsuit Settlements Up in the Air

Zimmer Holdings, manufacturer of the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee replacement device, has been inundated with lawsuits regarding the product due in part to studies that outline the elevated risk for complications associated with this device as opposed to similar devices on the market. It is unclear whether or not there will be Zimmer settlements out-of-court with any plaintiffs, so for the time being legal proceedings are moving forward as planned. One question on the mind of many plaintiffs is how much money they stand to receive in compensation for their injuries and side effects endured as a result of the joint replacement device. The short answer is that it depends on the plaintiff.
Since different plaintiffs will have different experiences and different side effects related to the joint replacement device, many factors will be taken into account when determining what is appropriate Zimmer Knee compensation. For example, if injury sustained as a result of the NexGen system has prevented the plaintiff from continuing his or her career, this fact will likely be taken into account in the payout. Other factors that will be considered include medical and legal expenses, loss of ability to spend time with family or complete other activities, pain and suffering, and wages lost. Patients who have had to undergo a revision surgery to attempt to correct the problems caused by the faulty device will likely have that factored in as well. Overall, patients could win as much as several million dollars from Zimmer lawsuits, which pits the patient victims up against one of the largest orthopedics manufacturing companies in the world.
Patients have endured loosening of the artificial joint in unprecedented numbers, which can lead to pain and difficulty standing or walking – symptoms that mimic conditions that necessitate a knee replacement in the first place. Potential plaintiffs should not hesitate to contact a Zimmer knee lawyer to decide whether or not to file suit against the company.

Zimmer Knee Lawsuit Backlash

Zimmer Holdings, manufacturer of a knee replacement system that has been surrounded by a series of lawsuits since a significant number of patients developed serious complications due to Zimmer Knee failure, has fired back at legal firms who have contributed to the suits against them. The lawsuit states that defendants are making false claims about the product and defaming the company, leading to a loss in income for the corporation. They say that the assertions patients and lawyers are making about the failure rate of the product as well as the side effects and other defects are exaggerated or false. The company is also claiming that generic statements made by legal firms, such as “Zimmer knee problems” or “Zimmer NexGen failure”, are misleading because only a particular component has been shown to cause adverse effects.

Controversial Surgeon’s Dismissal

Producer of joint replacement devices, Zimmer Inc. is surrounded by controversy regarding the device quality and safety of their NexGen CR-Flex cementless total knee replacement implant. There is also controversy regarding how it parted ways with one of its top consultants, Dr. Richard A. Berger, after complaints of Zimmer knee failure.

Relationship ends between Zimmer and their Consultants

The 2010 study presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons titled, “The High Failure Rate of a High-Flex Total Knee Arthroplasty Design,” indicated a high failure rate in patients who received a cementless high-flex femoral unit implanted as part of a total knee replacement. The study was conducted by Dr. Richard Berger and Dr. Craig J. Della Valle, both orthopedic surgeons at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center. During the study 108 patients received the cementless device and were evaluated for evidence of bone integration. Of those evaluated, 39 (36%) were radiographically loose, 9 (8.3%) required Zimmer Knee revision surgery due to loosening and pain, and 1 (1%) was awaiting a revision surgery.
Dr. Richard A. Berger was a paid consultant for Zimmer Inc., a producer of joint replacement devices for more than a decade. The Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex device, a cementless total knee replacement implant, had been ineffective as a result of an alleged flaw in the design. The device was designed and expected to last 15 years. Berger, however, noticed within the first year of implantation a pattern of Zimmer Knee failure and alerted Zimmer officials to the potential issue. The knee replacement device was expected to fuse to the bone naturally instead of requiring an adhesive. After complaints from patients about pain it was revealed that the knee devices were coming loose and not fusing to the bone as intended.
Dr. Berger said he had initially hoped to avoid a public showdown with the company, by following a more traditional route and performing a study with another Rush University surgeon, Dr. Della Valle, who also had issues with the Zimmer knee. Soon after the study was made public, however, Zimmer cut Berger from its consultant payroll. Zimmer claims that the termination was part of a normal rotation of consultants. However, critics including Berger have questioned Zimmer’s motives in light of the circumstances surrounding his exit.