The Failure of the Few, Casts a Shadow over the Many

Toronto, ONIt must be a tough go for the people at Zimmer Knee Replacement, since problems have surfaced with the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex Porous Femoral component. Studies have shown that the aforementioned component has been found to be lacking—failing at a much quicker rate than what is normally expected by the industry of an artificial knee component. However, the failure rates of the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex Porous Femoral component tend to paint the entire Zimmer NexGen Knee Replacement catalogue with the same brush.

That may not be fair to the manufacturer. But then, it's not fair to the patient, either.

Take Mark. He's a freelance custodian, whose job it is to haul bags of garbage, swab floors, change light fixtures and anything else required to keep a busy work area pristine for clients and employees. He also does this at several different venues in a day, which means he is constantly hauling stuff in and out of his truck.

Mark went in for a knee replacement—although he doesn't know exactly what kind of "knee" he has. Is what he has part of the Zimmer knee replacement recall? He doesn't know. But to watch him work is painful, to say the least.

He had his knee "done" in the fall. His surgeon told him he would be out of commission for about six weeks. Following his doctor's instructions, he rested. He lost a few pounds. His wife had to tend to the business until Mark got back on his feet.

He's on his feet now—but he's in even more pain than he was prior to the surgery. It limits what he can do at work, and it takes him twice as long to do anything. He tires more easily as well, since the pain is taking more out of him.

He expected a rebirth following his knee surgery. Like any prosthetic knee recipient who has watched the videos of the spry old guy balancing on the basketball, he expected nothing less. No, he'll never catch himself running marathons and skipping rope. But Mark did think—like any knee replacement patient who receives implants from various implant manufacturers, including Zimmer Knee implants—that his life, and his work would be easier.

Now, anyone looking at Mark and witnessing his plight vow never to have an artificial knee installed. It's not fair to the industry, really, given that there are thousands of patients who have had artificial knees implanted successfully. But the plight of one tends to cast a bad light on everyone.

Just as problems associated with the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex Porous Femoral component have cast a pall on the entire Zimmer NexGen family, scores of patients have found success with Zimmer NexGen. But the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex Porous Femoral component has been alleged to be defective.

Manufacturers should be duly recognized when their products are successful.

But they also need to take responsibility when products fail—as they should with any component of a NexGen knee system that proves to deliver less mobility, and durability, than is ultimately promised and expected.