Zimmer Natural Knee Complaints Spur More Lawsuits

Washington, DCThe Zimmer Natural knee made its debut about 27 years ago and since that time many people have been outfitted with a Zimmer Natural. And since the Natural-Knee Flex System, Prolong Articular Surface knee implants were recalled in 2009 and 2010, a number of people have filed Zimmer Natural lawsuits.

In June 2012, a California resident filed a lawsuit against Zimmer, claiming her knee started to loosen soon after she was implanted with a NexGen knee. She had to undergo revision surgery three years after getting the Zimmer knee replacement. Her case is being transferred to the Zimmer NexGen knee failure multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 2272).

Will the Zimmer Natural follow the NexGen?

Zimmer Holdings, a medical device manufacturer specializing in orthopedic implants, blamed doctors for its failed Natural knee system. But some patients think the Zimmer Natural is at fault.

Billy is scheduled for revision surgery next month and he made sure that he is not getting a Zimmer knee this time around.

“I hurt all the time and I’m just miserable,” says Billy. “I had the natural knee II system replacement on one knee in 2008 and my other knee was done in 2009, again with a Zimmer natural. Now I can no longer work and I’m on social security disability.”

Billy says that he used to fish and hunt but now he can’t even walk or stand for any length of time. “I was better off without the knee replacements and now there is no turning back.” (Billy adds that he was covered for long term disability benefits with Unum health insurance but he was cut off last March—without a justifiable reason, yet he qualified for social security.)

Eldon says his Zimmer Natural knee replacement failed after 11 years of wear. “Cysts formed in the tibia and my surgeon said that they all fail at 10 years or shortly after that.” Eldon underwent revision surgery with a bone graft to fill the cysts in the tibia. “I lost work time plus so much pain and suffering. My surgeon also told me that the cysts form because of a problem with the implant itself.”

“Ever since I had a Zimmer Natural knee implant I have suffered from acute pain,” says Melody. “Daily living is just about impossible—I am not able to drive anymore and even walking is a task. I can no longer perform household duties and I’ve been confined to my house. As if that isn’t bad enough, I am always on pain meds and constantly having to apply heat or ice packs.” Melody can’t decide whether or not revision surgery will help.

A number of patients have also filed Zimmer Natural knee lawsuits after revision surgery.
Experienced knee and hip attorneys expect that Zimmer lawsuits will soon be consolidated as mass torts at state and federal levels for discovery stage.