subject: Knee Replacement Surgery Causing Problems for NexGen CR-Flex Recipients [print this page] Knee Replacement Surgery Causing Problems for NexGen CR-Flex Recipients
There are an estimated 130,000 knee replacement surgeries performed every year on patients whose knee joints have failed them. There are two separate, but similar, issues that lead to the need for such surgery. The first is arthritis, which is inflammation of the knee joint leading to deterioration of the knee's cartilage. The second, more serious condition is called "osteoarthritis," in which the knee deteriorates to the point that there is bone-on-bone contact in the joint. In knee replacement surgery, the surgeon typically removes the bone and cartilage at the end of the thigh and shin bones. A device is then attached to the end of each bone and connected to form a synthetic joint.
The Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee replacement system has been at the forefront of the knee replacement industry as of late. Since being introduced in 2003, touted as a new and improved knee replacement system that would give recipients a broad range of motion, it has been used in over 150,000 surgeries. The product has been immensely popular, but there is now evidence that the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex is a defective product. One study by a former Zimmer consultant and his colleagues at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago asserted that the product failed at an unacceptable rate for the medical device industry.
Right now, law firms all over the country are investigating the possibility of Zimmer replacement knee lawsuits. Such lawsuits could go in a number of different directions. Some will claim that Zimmer failed to adequately warn consumers of the risk of failure, others will assert that Zimmer failed to conduct enough pre-market testing to ensure the safety of the device, and still others could base their claims on a claim that Zimmer did not employ the necessary care in developing the device. In fact, a single plaintiff can allege all three.
While not all Zimmer implants have had the same reported problems, the cementless version of the NexGen CR-Flex has allegedly been loosening in patients. Such loosening is incredibly painful for the patient and results in swelling and difficulty walking. There is enough evidence built up at this point that could potentially be used as a basis for a determination that the product is defective. If such a determination is made, Zimmer owes its customers restitution for putting out an unsafe product.
Potential litigation is in its early stage but if you have suffered serious pain in your knee and have undergone knee replacement surgery using a Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee replacement system, then you may have a claim against Zimmer. Evidence is piling up in your favor and your first step should be contacting the Rottenstein Law Group to discuss the possibility of a Zimmer lawsuit.
