Zimmer Durom Hip Joint Replacement Cup Loosening
Discussion of Zimmer Durom Hip Replacement Cup Failures
We represent patients across the county with failed Zimmer Metasul Durom hip replacement cups due to loosening. There is some confusion amongst patients and attorneys regarding exactly what product this involves. To the left is an image of the Zimmer Durom hip cup, head, and neck adapter. This is the system that is used in the United States and this system was the subject of the sales suspension by Zimmer, Inc. 
An image of the Zimmer Durom hip resurfacing system is to the right. The United States Food & Drug Administration has not approved the Zimmer Durom hip cup for use in hip resurfacing and thus this system was not sold in the United States. Therefore, the image on the right is not relevant to failed Zimmer Durom hip replacement cups in the United States.
Firm Leading Zimmer Durom Cup Litigation
On August 11, 2008, the Maglio Christopher Toale & Pitts Law Firm filed the first lawsuit in the United States on behalf of a patient with a failed Zimmer Durom cup and continues to lead the litigation against Zimmer, Inc. The Maglio Christopher Toale & Pitts Law Firm has for years represented patients across the country in lawsuits against hip and knee joint replacement manufacturers regarding defective hip and knee joint replacement devices. We have represented patients across the nation in obtaining compensation for their for their failed Zimmer Durom cups and continue to actively litigate cases involving failed Zimmer Durom hip replacement cups across the nation. If you believe that your Zimmer Durom acetabular component (hip cup) failed because it was defective, we will be glad to review your information to determine whether we feel there are sufficient grounds for us to represent you in pursuing a lawsuit against Zimmer. Click here for our online potential case evaluation form.
Typically in order to review a case, we need the orthopedic surgeon's office chart, the operative reports for the original joint replacement surgery and the revision surgery, and the device record for the original surgery from the hospital chart (this shows the product and lot numbers of the components of the device). We also like to have any of the explanted components from the Zimmer Durom hip system. Therefore, it is essential that you get possession of any removed components as as soon as possible.
If the revision of your failed Durom hip replacement cup has not yet been completed, please do not wait until after the surgery to contact us. There are several additional pre-revision-surgery steps that we are having our clients take that we believe may be very beneficial to their cases.
Background on Durom Hip Cup Failures
Multinational joint replacement device manufacturer Zimmer, Inc. marketed its Metasul Durom hip replacement cup as designed for use in young, active patients who are likely to outlive a conventional hip prosthesis. Unfortunately, these cups are failing at much higher than expected rate.
This issue initially became public in Spring of 2008 when a highly respected orthopedic researcher and surgeon, Larry Dorr, MD, disclosed that a very high rate of Durom hip cups implanted at his clinic needed to be surgically revised within two years of implantation. In a April 22, 2008, letter to his colleagues at the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, Dr. Dorr wrote: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 the patients. When we hit on the edge of the cup it would just pop free. As time goes by the cups begin developing radiolucent lines. We now have one cup at two years that has actually migrated a short distance. It has tilted into varus. We do not believe the fixation surface is good on these cups. Also there is a circular cutting surface on the periphery of the cup that we believe prevents the cup from fully seating. We stopped using the cup after the first revisions.
Three months later, on July 22, 2008, Zimmer finally suspended sales of its Durom Hip Cup, and sent a letter to surgeons and patients recommending that doctors monitor patients' Durom hips closely. While Zimmer has so far blamed the high rate of failure on surgeon error rather than on their product, the facts suggest otherwise. According to Dr. Dorr, a paid Zimmer consultant who has implanted thousands of hip replacement devices over the years, more than 8 percent of his Zimmer Durom patients required surgery within two years and as time goes by the number of device failures may continue to increase. As of July of 2008, at least 12,000 patients in the United States had Durom Cups implanted in their hips. And, following a very brief sales suspension, Zimmer, Inc. again began selling the Durom Hip Cup and continues to sell it to this day. The above photo is of a failed Zimmer Durom hip cup and as you can see, there is no evidence of bone ingrowth on the backside of the cup.
Zimmer Durom Cup Failure Blog
For the benefit of our clients and potential clients, we have created a discussion blog regarding Zimmer Durom hip cup failures. Please feel free to add information that you believe would be helpful to others with failed Zimmer Durom hip cups, ask questions, and make comments.
WARNING
If you are a victim of a Zimmer Durom hip cup failure you need an experienced medical product liability attorney. Granting Zimmer a release of liability likely means that regardless of what happens to you in the future, you cannot sue them for your injuries. If you sign such a release, you are giving away your rights and may be subjecting yourself to a suit by your health insurer, Medicare, or Medicaid. If you have a Zimmer Durom hip cup implanted in your body with which you are experiencing problems, you need to consult with an experienced medical product liability attorney immediately.
Click here for our online potential case evaluation form.
