Zimmer Duron Cup Failures Cause Massive Recall
Orthopedic device manufacturer Zimmer Inc. has issued a recall on its Durom Cup chromium alloy artificial hip. This recall comes just two years after the FDA approved sale of this product in the U.S.
While many doctors reported problems, one of the nation’s most prominent orthopedic surgeons wrote an open letter to his fellow physicians about the dangers of the Zimmer Durom cup, the metal device that replaces the hip socket. It has failed to attach properly after surgical implants, leaving the patients with extremely painful hips that also fail to function properly.
Common symptoms of a failed cup occur 90 days or more after surgery and may include;
- Pain or discomfort in the replacament joint
- A ‘loose’ feeling or ‘popping’ in the replacement joint
- Additional surgery
- Revision surgery
Faulty Surgery - Or - Faulty Design?
- There are over 600,000 hip and knee replacements annually in the U.S.
- There were 12,000 Durom cups used in hip replacements before they were recalled.
- The doctor who raised the issue with his open letter has implanted 5,000 artificial joints alone.
- That same doctor found 14 of the 165 Durom hip systems implanted at his clinic needed additional surgery within two years of hip implant surgery.
“This failure rate has occurred within the first two years. In the first year the x-rays looked perfect. We have revised four that did not have any radiolucent lines or migration (and John Moreland revised one). These early cups fooled us, but the symptoms were so classic for a loose implant that we operated on the patients. When we hit on the edge of the cup it would just pop free.”
Lawrence D. Dorr, MD
Dorr Institute for Arthritis Research and Education
If you have had a hip replacement in the last two years and have these symptoms:
- Continued generalized pain in the artificial hip area
- Pain while walking or sitting
- Reduced range of motion in the leg
- Discomfort when rotating the leg or turning on it
The FDA continues to receive complaints; register your complaint with one of our lawyers today.
If you, a friend or family member have a defective Zimmer Durom Cup artificial hip. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation form and we’ll be in touch.
