| If you're over the age of 60, it's very likely that | | | | replacement at a younger age than is standard, in |
| either you or someone you love has had a hip | | | | their late 50's or early 60's. With a traditional hip |
| replacement. These operations, around for almost 40 | | | | replacement, the device must be replaced every ten |
| years, have become increasingly more common as | | | | years, on average. For a younger patient, this can |
| seniors live longer, and want to live healthy and | | | | mean several difficult follow up surgeries. This device |
| active lives. | | | | was therefore marketed with the promise that it |
| As we age, our hip joints often wear out. In the | | | | would last a lifetime, without the need for |
| past, this has led to pain and inactivity, especially | | | | replacement. |
| among younger sufferers. Hip replacements help, but | | | | In fact, these claims proved to be false. A doctor at |
| need to be replaced themselves every ten years. | | | | a clinic which used the devices because of their |
| The Zimmer hip implant was supposed to change all | | | | claims of longevity reported that they in fact had a |
| that, not needing to be replaced. Unfortunately, this | | | | very high rate of failure. All told, twelve percent of |
| claim has not held up. Because of this, there is a large | | | | patients at the clinic needed their devices replaced |
| and far reaching hip recall. | | | | within two years. This is a stunningly high failure rate, |
| A hip replacement can be exactly what an older | | | | and is much worse than that of a standard hip |
| person needs to continue a healthy and active | | | | replacement, leading to called for a hip recall. The |
| lifestyle without pain. As we age, parts of our body | | | | Zimmer Durom company disputed the clinic's claim, |
| that are constantly under use and stress begin to | | | | but in their own internal testing, the two year failure |
| wear. Because the average American is living such a | | | | rate of the devices was seven percent. This lead to |
| long life on average, many of these parts start to | | | | the product being pulled from the market in July 2008 |
| wear out. One such part of the body is the hip joint. | | | | If you or someone you know received a hip |
| A hip joint that is not functioning properly can lead to | | | | replacement before July 2008, contact your doctor |
| large amounts of pain during normal, every day | | | | immediately to ensure that it is not a part of the hip |
| activities. That is why these joints are often replaced | | | | recall. If it is, consult with your doctor about your |
| with they type of device that is part of the hip recall. | | | | health, and the longevity of your hip replacement, |
| The hip recall is being caused by a device, | | | | immediately. Even if the replacement does not need |
| manufactured by the Zimmer Durom company, that | | | | to be removed immediately, you may also qualify to |
| does not work in the way that it was promised. The | | | | take part in a class action lawsuit against Zimmer |
| Zimmer device was marketed to those needing a hip | | | | Durom. |