Have you or anyone you know undergone hip replacement surgery? As American’s age, and want to remain healthy and active, many are turning to hip replacements as an option that helps them stay on the go, and free from pain.
As we age, our hip joints often wear out. In the past, this has led to pain and inactivity, especially among younger sufferers. Hip replacements help, but need to be replaced themselves every ten years. The Zimmer hip implant was supposed to change all that, not needing to be replaced. Unfortunately, this claim has not held up. Because of this, there is a large and far reaching hip recall.
A hip replacement can be exactly what an older person needs to continue a healthy and active lifestyle without pain. As we age, parts of our body that are constantly under use and stress begin to wear. Because the average American is living such a long life on average, many of these parts start to wear out. One such part of the body is the hip joint. A hip joint that is not functioning properly can lead to large amounts of pain during normal, every day activities. That is why these joints are often replaced with they type of device that is part of the hip recall.
This particular hip recall is being caused by a device that was manufactured by the Zimmer Durom company. It was sold under the promise that it would be the perfect device for a younger person needing a hip replacement. A normal hip replacement device will need to be replaced once every ten years on average. This means that for someone who has the replacement done at a young age, they will be faced with the prospect of several follow up surgeries. The replacement being recalled was supposed to change that, by lasting for the rest of a patients life without the need for replacement.
These claims were actually false. At a clinic where many of the devices were installed, a doctor noted that twelve percent of patients who received the Zimmer Durom implant needed to have them surgically replaced within two years. This number is much higher than it should be given their claims of longevity, and it much higher than that of even a traditional implant. The discrepancy led to calls for a hip recall. Zimmer Durom claimed that the high failure rates at the clinic were caused by doctor error, but in fact, in their own internal study, seven percent of the devices failed within two years. Because of this high number, the company pulled the hip replacement device in July 2008.
If you or someone you know received a hip replacement before July 2008, contact your doctor immediately to ensure that it is not a part of the hip recall. If it is, consult with your doctor about your health, and the longevity of your hip replacement, immediately. Even if the replacement does not need to be removed immediately, you may also qualify to take part in a class action lawsuit against Zimmer Durom.
