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.


It is believed that Zimmer knee failure of the CR-Flex systems is associated with design problems, though the manufacturer has placed the blame on orthopedic surgeons. A doctor who authored a study on the knee replacements has called the failure rate of the Zimmer CR-Flex knee implant “horrific” and three surgeons have recommended against the use of certain Zimmer knee replacements due to “unacceptably high” rates of implant failure and loosening. According to the data presented in April of 2010, knee surgeons at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago identified at least 9 patients who required revision surgery for the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee, and another 39 patients who had evidence of radiographic loosening.

Over the past year, a growing number of patients throughout the United States have filed Zimmer knee lawsuits alleging that they experienced similar problems as a result of design defects associated with various components. While a Zimmer knee implant recall has not yet been issued, the NexGen CR-Flex has been associated with a higher-than-expected failure rate, according to new research. Knee replacements are intended to last approximately 15 years, but the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex can reportedly fail within three years. The battle between who is to blame has raged on but upcoming lawsuits should point to the fact that the design flaws are at fault and not the surgeons.