Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants: Zimmer "Durom Cup" Recall
From 2006 to 2008, approximately 12,000 people received Zimmer Durom hip implants. But because these implants had high failure rates, sales were suspended and the device was recalled in 2008. Many people who received a Zimmer Durom acetabular component, also called the "Durom Cup" needed a second subsequent surgery to remove and replace the component.

January 20, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- As the population in the United States continues to age, joint replacement surgery is becoming more commonplace. For those who have led active lifestyles, the joints - knees, shoulders and hips - can wear out and require replacement. As younger and younger people need joint replacement surgery, the longevity of replacement joints, especially hips, is under scrutiny.

In the United States, 700,000 joint replacement surgeries are completed each year. Of those joint replacement surgeries, 270,000 are hip replacements, according to a recent survey published in the British Medical Journal.

In the past, most hip replacements components were made of plastics and ceramics. Complaints about wear and required replacement prompted the development of metal-on-metal hip joints. Metal-on-metal hip replacement components have been recommended for younger individuals because they were believed to last longer. Some of the other design benefits of the metal-on-metal hip include less material loss from constant rubbing and a lower chance of dislocation or device fracture.

However, in the rush to introduce new longer-use hip replacements, several companies sold defective products that have recently been the subject of several recalls. In November 2011, the British Medical Journal published a study that compared metal-on-metal hip replacements with traditional bearings made from ceramics, metal or polyethylene. What they found after a review of many studies was that metal-on-metal hip implants do not always outlast traditional implants. Further, they noted that metal shards from the rubbing of metal on metal associated with walking and vigorous exercise may cause an accumulation of metal ions in patient tissue and other problems. The researchers noted that further comparative study was needed.

Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement

Metal-on-metal hip replacements come in two variants: traditional total hip replacement (metal ball and socket) and hip resurfacing when a metal cap is placed over the top of the femur. In a hip resurfacing procedure, damaged bone and cartilage is removed from the socket and a metal acetabular component replaces the socket of the joint. Total hip replacement and hip resurfacing surgeries are generally successful in treating advanced joint disease.

Metal-on-metal hip replacements are made from cobalt and chrome and are designed to hold up over a longer period of time than earlier designs. The manufacturers advertised that their metal-on-metal hips would last between 15 to 20 years.

Zimmer, Inc., one of the manufacturers of metal hip components, manufactured a one-piece metal socket device with a plasma coating called the Durom cup. The coating was designed to stimulate bone growth around and onto the surface of the implant. The cup then is kept in place by natural bone growth.

From 2006 to 2008, approximately 12,000 people received Zimmer Durom hip implants. But because these implants had high failure rates, sales were suspended and the device was recalled in 2008. Many people who received a Zimmer Durom acetabular component, also called the "Durom Cup" needed a second subsequent surgery to remove and replace the component. Some of these devices failed within several months of use. Other individuals who received the device may have not yet experienced complications, but still may need a second surgery and replacement in the near future.

What Are the Complications Related to The Zimmer Durom Cup?

While the idea that the bone would grow around the implant and hold it is place without requiring cement was a novel one, the plasma coating designed to stimulate bone growth did not always work as desired. A common problem was that the implant did not properly attach or seal with the bone. Because the implant did not require cement, the socket had a tendency to float in the hip joint. Patients complained of sharp pain in the hip and lower back. Many patients even experienced decreased mobility after the Durom Cup implant was used in their hip replacement surgery.

In subsequent repair surgeries, orthopedic surgeons found that some of the Zimmer Durom Cup implants were loose because no new bone had grown around the implant. The plasma coating that was supposed to stimulate bone growth may have been defective.

If you received a Zimmer Durom Cup device and needed a revision surgery, make sure that the doctor keeps the actual implant that is being replaced. The defective Zimmer implant that resulted in additional pain and/or surgery may be necessary evidence for a products liability action.

Available Remedies for Those Who Received a Defective Implant

In Illinois and across the nation, manufacturers have a legal duty to protect users of their products from injuries that might result from reasonably foreseeable defects. Generally, if a defective product is sold, a products liability claim may be brought against the manufacturer. Products liability cases are often brought under the legal theory of strict liability, which does not require proof that the manufacturer was negligent or intended to harm anyone. The injured party must show that:
- The product was "unreasonably dangerous,"
- The condition existed when the product left the manufacturer's control and
- Injury was caused by the defect.

An injured person may recover monetary damages, which might include medical expenses, lost wages and compensation for pain and suffering. In some cases, 'punitive damages' may also be awarded. Punitive damages are intended to punish a manufacturer and deter companies from selling products that might result in injury.

If you or a loved one had a hip replacement surgery in recent years and are suffering from hip or lower back pain, see an orthopedic surgeon immediately. If your hip implant was a Zimmer Durom Cup metal-on-metal hip replacement, contact an experienced Chicago products liability attorney, who can protect your rights and help you seek compensation for your injury.

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