Zimmer Inc. Cutting Indiana Jobs amid Defective Hip Allegations

Fort Wayne, IN: Zimmer Inc., which has been hit with lawsuits alleging defective hip replacements, recently cut jobs at its orthopedics operation in Warsaw, Indiana, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports.

According to the company, the job cuts also affected employees who are based in other offices.

Garry Clark, a spokesman for the company, said that the decision was part of a restructuring for the firm, but did not say how many total workers would lose their jobs.

The decision comes on the heels of the company cutting a number of management jobs in December and approximately 50 information technology jobs in May 2010. In May, the company also confirmed that it planned to outsource IT workers.

In June 2009, Zimmer also cut more than 100 jobs in Warsaw, which was part of a plan to reduce its global staff by five percent, the news provider said.

Since the Zimmer Durom Cup hip replacement part was introduced to the US market in 2006, there have been a number of allegations from patients who have reportedly needed additional hip surgeries after receiving the implant.