Trouble With the NexGen CR-Flex in Osteoarthritis Patients

Trouble With the NexGen CR-Flex in Osteoarthritis Patients

Roughly 21 million people in the United States have to deal with the side effects of osteoarthritis of the knees. Osteoarthritis is a painful condition characterized by the deterioration of the knee ligaments and causes the connecting bones to rub against each other, making everyday tasks very painful. When a person's knees get to that point, the typical solution is to undergo knee replacement surgery, whereby a synthetic joint is implanted in the sufferer's knee to alleviate the side effects of osteoarthritis.

One of the most prominent knee replacement systems to be introduced in the last decade is the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex, which was first marketed for sale in 2003. The product purportedly gives recipients a wider range of motion than ever before with any knee replacement system. Unfortunately, there have been recent signs indicating that the cementless version of the NexGen CR-Flex is prematurely loosening in patients who receive the product in knee replacement surgery.

Zimmer has been openly supportive of its product in the face of the allegations that it is defective, even blaming the issue on a former consultant's surgical procedure rather than any defect with the product itself. Dr. Richard Berger, who worked with the company for a decade, has been openly critical of the product. In March of 2010, he presented a study to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons asserting that the NexGen CR-Flex is far too susceptible to loosening by industry standards and should not be implanted in patients.

Typically, in order to determine whether the device has loosened and evaluate whether or not the sufferer will require revision surgery to fix the issue, a doctor will conduct a bone scan on the patient's knee. A bone scan is different than a regular x-ray in that it involves the injection of a small amount of radioactive material into a vein and allowing it to travel through the blood stream. As the substance decays, it gives off radiation, which will reflect on camera if the artificial joint has loosened. It is a routine process that typically takes about an hour.

If you have suffered pain in your knee and have received a Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee replacement system, you should see a doctor to undergo a bone scan and determine whether you will need revision surgery. Although a Zimmer knee recall has not been issued yet, if you have experienced loosening, you may have a claim against Zimmer. In order to evaluate if you have such claim, contact the attorneys at the Rottenstein Law Group, who have years of experience defending clients' rights against corporations like Zimmer.

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