Zimmer Durom Hip Implant

We are no longer accepting cases related to the use of Zimmer Durom Hip Implant. We have successfully resolved the cases related to Zimmer Durom Hip Implant use and have obtained settlements on behalf of our clients.

Metal-on-metal hip implants have caused a number of problems in recent years. Medical device manufacturers have attempted to make these devices more durable, but that has resulted in major missteps that have caused patients severe pain and complications.

Zimmer, a medical device manufacturer, created the Durom hip implant, known to some as the Durom Acetabular Component or Durom Cup. In 2008, Zimmer issued a voluntary recall for the devices, advising surgeons not to use them until they had received additional training on how to implant them properly. Those patients who had already received the hip implants were sometimes forced to have revision surgery to correct problems caused by the Durom Cup.

The Zimmer Durom hip implant is one of several metal-on-metal hip implants on the market in recent years. When creating these devices, manufacturers thought the metal-on-metal makeup of the implants would be more durable for patients. Most were not screened thoroughly by the Food and Drug Administration, which approves devices through the 510(k) process if the devices are believed to be largely similar to others on the market.

One of the most prevalent problems occurring in patients implanted with the Zimmer Durom Cup is a failure of the acetabular cup to attach to the patient’s bone. This failure of the cup to adhere to the patient’s own anatomy results in a loose acetabular cup, eventually requiring revision surgery.

This device, and others like it, also became problematic because the metal from the two components rubs together and creates tiny metal fragments. This results in metallosis, which is an elevated level of chromium and cobalt metal ions in the blood. Many patients who have developed metallosis have had the metal-on-metal hip replacements removed and replaced with different implants.

In addition to metallosis and loosening, patients with a faulty implant such as the Zimmer Durom cup may have experienced swelling and adverse tissue reactions.

Some patients may be simply enduring pain or having other problems that they do not attribute to a failure of their device. If you have a hip replacement and suspect it may be metal on metal, it is worthwhile to visit a physician for tests, specifically blood tests for elevated levels of chromium and cobalt in the bloodstream, and also to speak with an attorney.

If you have been injured by a defective product or medical device, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit. Contact attorney Jessica Shoulders at (270) 781-6500 or jshoulders@elpolaw.com. She can provide a free consultation about your case and help you determine the next steps.