Zimmer Natural Knee and Natural Hip—More Claims Filed

Warsaw, INIn 2010 Zimmer Holdings proudly announced the 25th anniversary of its Zimmer Natural Knee System that had been used in more than 400,000 implantations worldwide. Zimmer didn't announce any adverse reports from Zimmer Natural Knee or Hip replacement patients in its press release, but attorneys have received a number of complaints that the device has failed and is allegedly defective.

According to Zimmer, the first Natural knee was implanted in 1985 and the Natural knee system has been commercially available since 1986. In 2007, the Gender Solutions(TM) Natural Knee Flex system was introduced, apparently to "recognize the differences in male and female anatomies." Further, Jeff McCaulley, President, Zimmer Reconstructive, said that the Zimmer Natural knee system "has been improving patient quality of life for a quarter century, adapting to changing technologies and patient needs." However, a number of Zimmer Natural recipients likely question these statements, as many of them believe their quality of life has far from improved—in fact it has worsened.

Moreover, Zimmer has a history of issues on its other devices, such as the Durom Cup hip implant, which had sales suspended in July 2008 after data was reviewed on more than 3,000 cases. Then the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex Porous Femoral component was linked to problems including loosening of the implant to failure of the entire replacement knee, which would then require revision surgery: In March 2010, at the annual American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons conference, doctors reported that the Zimmer NexGen knee device was found to have failures.

Zimmer is facing multiple lawsuits with both its Durom Cup and NexGen systems alleging the devices are defective, and complaints from patients are similar, regardless which system they have. Now Zimmer Natural patients are echoing these same complaints.

Zimmer Natural Knee and Natural hip patients cannot help but wonder—when will their Natural implant fail? Will they require revision surgery? Financial burdens are associated with hip and knee surgeries: many people require weeks off work and some individuals haven't even been able to return to work, while others have been terminated from their jobs because they are no longer able to perform. Attorneys believe that Zimmer is accountable for lost wages, medical bills, the time you spent in pain management and more.

Attorneys are already compiling claims against Zimmer Holdings for its Natural Knee and Natural Hip systems…