More than 200,000 potentially defective Zimmer NexGen knee components may have been implanted throughout the United States, which could have caused thousands of people to experience problems or require additional knee revision surgery due to early failure of their Zimmer knee replacement.
The majority, 85%-90%, of total knee replacements last for up to 10 years or even longer. However, some recipients of the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex implant are experiencing loosening and other failures, sometimes within the first two years of surgery. In September 2010, the tibial portion of the Zimmer CR-Flex implant was recalled.
One reason for knee implant failure is the implant loosens from the femur bone where it is affixed. Loosening, for reasons other than infection or rejection, can occur because the cement holding it in place crumbles or the bone reabsorbs the cement used. In a standard knee implant, loosening is thought to occur in 1% of patients per year. Loosening will occur with knee implants 25% of the time after 10 years and require a second, revision surgery.
Loosening can be very serious to your health because movement between the implant and femur can impede blood supply to the bone tissue. When this occurs, only soft tissue can grow between the implant and the bone, which results in an unstable implant. The symptoms of loosening are often unusual stiffness, persistent pain, difficulty performing any weight bearing activity and diminished range of motion in the knee.
If you suspect that your implant may have loosened, it is important to see your physician. Your doctor will likely perform bone scans and X-rays to determine the viability of your implant. Our firm is currently investigating claims for those people who have Zimmer knee implants and have been injured. If you would like a free case evaluation, please contact Booth Samuels toll free at 1-866-515-8880 or at booths@pittmandutton.com.
