On June 20, 2010, an article in the New York Times discused the recurrent problems Zimmer^® Corporation has had with the failures of their orthopedic implants. Dr. Richard Berger, noted orthopedic surgeon from Chicago, Illinois, has been designing surgical instruments and artificial joints for Zimmer^® for over a decade. Zimmer^® had Dr.Berger train other Orthopedic Surgeons at seminars and conferences in how to proroperly implant their joint protheses.

When Dr. Berger noticed that one of the Zimmer^® knee protheses he had been using was failing at a much earlier rate than other knee implants, he told Zimmer^® the problem. He explained the component creats excess pressure which prevents the thigh bone (femur) from fully fusing with the implant. Instead of cooperating with Dr. Berger to determine the cause of the problem, Zimmer^® abruptly quit working with Dr. Berger and told him that the problem was his technique not the implant. When Dr. Berger learned another Orthopedic Surgeon, who was also a Zimmer^® consultant, was haing the same problems with the knee implants, they presented their study at the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons national meeting in 2009.

Their results showed that 9% of the knees were failing too early, (normally, knee implants should last 15-20 years), and there was evidence of loosening in HALF of all the patients with the NexGen CR Flex uncemented knees.

Two years ago in a similar incedent, another one of the top Zimmer^® consultants, Larry Dorr, complained of problems he was having with the Zimmer^® Durom acetabular cup used in hip implants. He had been one of the developers of the implant and had also taught hundreds of other Orthopedic Surgeons how to preform the procedure. When he informed Zimmer^® of the problems, Zimmer^® told Dr. Dorr it was not their implant but it was his technique that was at fault.

Consult A Doctor On Medical Issue
The Steinberg law firm does not intend, by this web site or otherwise, to dissuade anyone from taking medication without their doctors' approval. Please consult your doctor, not your lawyer, on matters relating to your health. Patients should talk to their physicians to decide whether they are at risk with their Zimmer^® knee implant.

Consult A Lawyer on Legal Issues
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury due to a defective Zimmer^® knee implant, call or e-mail for a free consultation.

Please e-mail Andrew E. Steinberg* at:  andrewsteinberg@lawyer.com for a free, confidential consultation, or call us at 888-529-4688.

Our description of your legal rights is not intended to imply that any product is defective. That can only be determined through a case-specific investigation.

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