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.

Knee revision surgery can also cost patients a significant sum – and for some patients, the only hope for regaining control over their medical bills is to seek damages from the company whose product affected them. Two law firms in Michigan and Texas saw this as an opportunity and almost as soon as Zimmer NexGen systems were tentatively connected to Zimmer knee failure and revision surgery they began to run ads using Zimmer knee revision surgery statistics, attempting to entice potential plaintiffs to file lawsuits against the orthopedics giant. Zimmer, who made $4.2 billion in profits last year, took legal action against the firms, saying that the claims they were making were slanderous and could defame the name of the orthopedics giant.

In order to potentially alleviate some of the controversy surrounding their product, Zimmer has introduced a new series of knee components to be used in knee revision surgeries that could help handle some of the problems patients have been experiencing with the NexGen systems. This could either help or hurt litigation against Zimmer, although it is not clear which. The new components, described as Trabecular Metal Material augment shapes and cones, are designed to fill knee defects developed when several NexGen models experience problems

A number of patients have already consulted with Zimmer lawyers about joining mounting litigation against the billion dollar company, although it is not yet clear how many plaintiffs will be involved in lawsuits against Zimmer by the time trials begin. Based on the number of patients fitted with Zimmer NexGen devices, the number could be in the hundreds. However, one thing is certain – damages handed out by the company will help many patients deal with high costs associated with additional surgeries and other treatment for Zimmer knee complications.