Consumer Alert: Zimmer Durom Cup Hip Implants Reportedly Subject to Premature Failure

August 8, 2011

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total hip replacement, is a common medical procedure performed on more than 442,000 patients in the U.S. each year. [1] Introduced to the U.S. market in 2006, the Zimmer Durom Cup hip replacement system is manufactured and sold by Zimmer Inc., one of the nation's largest producers of implanted orthopedic devices. In April 2008, Dr. Lawrence Dorr - a top Zimmer consultant and prominent Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon - alerted colleagues at a conference of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons that his patients were experiencing early failure of the Zimmer Durom Cup.[2] He reported that 14 of the 165 Durom Cup hip systems implanted at his clinic required corrective surgery within two years of the original surgery.[3]

On July 22, 2008, the FDA issued a voluntary recall of the Zimmer Durom Cup. [4] Although Zimmer maintained that surgical technique was the problem and not product failure, other orthopedic surgeons also reported early failure of the Zimmer Durom Cup products.[5] Unfortunately, over 12,000 patients in the U.S. already received the Durom Cup hip system. [6] Zimmer data and interviews with doctors suggest that hundreds of patients might need premature replacement procedures in coming years. [7]

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation established MDL No. 2158, pending in New Jersey, to handle the litigation surrounding the Zimmer Durom Cup.[8] Plaintiffs in cases filed in state and federal courts across the country are seeking compensation for their pain, suffering, and other physical injuries, cost of replacement surgery and other financial difficulties caused as a result of the failure of the Zimmer Durom Cup.

Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. is currently investigating potential claims on behalf of patients implanted with or injured by the Zimmer Durom Cup. If you or a loved one believe you may have received one of the Zimmer Durom Cup hip replacements and are experiencing problems with it, please feel free to contact our offices at 1-800-553-9910, or contact us here.

[1] http://www.zimmer.com/web/enUS/pdf/Durom_Backgrounder_on_Status_7-22-08.pdf
[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/health/31device.html
[3] Id.
[4] http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/MetalonMetalHipImplants/ucm241770.htm
[5] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/business/24hip.html?scp=3&sq=durom&st=cse
[6] Id.
[7] Id.
[8] http://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/Pending_MDLs/pending_mdls.html

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