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

that the patient may bend the joint further farther. However, the high-flexion coveted by many patients will not be achieved in those whose mobility was very severely restricted before the surgery.

Zimmer NexGen recalls have been issued for several different parts that may be used in the company's complete knee replacement systems, including some Zimmer NexGen MIS and Zimmer NexGen LPS components. In addition, research has linked a high rate of problems to some Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee replacement components themselves. 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 States.

According to an order issued last month by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, any individuals who file a Zimmer NexGen knee replacement lawsuit in federal district court will have their case consolidated as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation. Although the cases will be managed similar to how a Zimmer NexGen class action lawsuit would be handled during pretrial proceedings, each claim will continue to remain an individual lawsuit. It is expected that hundreds of lawsuits will eventually be filed over Zimmer NexGen knee replacement problems, which involve early failure of the artificial knee and often result in the need for additional revision surgery.