Failures and recall of Zimmer Durom Hip Cups

Recall of Zimmer Durom Hip Replacement
Actabular Component (Durom Cup)

On July 22, 2008, Zimmer, Inc. initated a nationwide suspension of sales of its Durom Hip Replacement Actabular Components (Durom Cup). Zimmer is a multinational manufacturer of medical devices. Zimmer has insisted that the sales suspension is not technically a recall. The suspension of sales (referred to herein as the recall) is the result of a high rate of loosening of Zimmer Durom Hip Replacement Cups. In press releases regarding the recall, Zimmer has attempted to blame the surgical technique of the implanting orthopedic surgeons for the failures. However, orthopedic surgeons have responded that the failure rate is not the fault of surgeons, but the design of the Durom Hip Actabular Components.

Questions regarding the Zimmer Durom Cups were initially raised by a highly respected othropedic surgeon and consultant for Zimmer, Larry Dorr, MD. Dr. Dorr had found that the Durom Hip Replacement Actabular Components implanted by his clinic experienced a close to ten percent failure rate within two years of implantation. He has stated that his initial attempts to get Zimmer to act on his findings were rebuffed. He then sent sent a letter reporting his findings to every member of the primary organization of hip and knee joint replacement surgeons in the United States. This apparently got Zimmer's attention and months later Zimmer finally recalled the Durom Actabular Components. More information regarding the recall is available from the Firm's Zimmer Durom hip replacement cup failure blog.

The Durom Hip Cup was sold by Zimmer for use in younger, more active patients. More than 12,000 patients in the United States have Durom Actabular Components implanted in their hips. The Durom cup was also sold by Zimmer outside of the United States for use in a hip resurfacing system, but was of a different design.

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The above information is provided as a public service by the Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA Law Firm. No attorney-client relationship can be established with the Maglio Christopher Toale & Pitts Law Firm absent the execution of a retainer agreement signed by an authorized partner of the Firm. The Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA Law Firm represents victims of defective hip and knee joint replacement devices across the nation. Copyright 2010 Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA Law Firm.