Zimmer Knee Replacement Linked to High Failure Rate

According to new reports, the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee replacements can fail at an unexpectedly high rate within a few years of surgery. The system’s high failure rate has not prompted a withdrawal of Zimmer knee implants (NexGen CR-Flex) from the U.S. market; however, several prominent knee surgeons have asked for a Zimmer knee implant recall and advised against implanting certain Zimmer replacement systems due to the product’s high occurrence of knee implant loosening and revision surgery.

Have you experienced knee implant failure, loosening of replacement knees, unexplained knee pain or other Zimmer knee implant complications?

Zimmer Knee Replacement Failure and Implant Loosening

At an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons conference, two surgeons presented data which suggested that the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee implants caused an abnormally high rate of knee implant loosening, which often required revision surgery. The surgeons reviewed a two-year results of a Rush University Medical Center study which examined 108 patients implanted with the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee replacement system. The researchers in this study found that 9% of patients experienced knee implant failure and 36% showed indications of Zimmer knee implant loosening.

The research team concluded that Zimmer knee replacement problems were associated with the implant’s design and were unrelated to the surgeon, surgical technique, or inherent factors of the patient receiving the knee replacement. Surgeons have previously presented information on knee replacement complications to Zimmer Holdings, which maintains that operating surgeons are to blame for the Zimmer knee implant complications.

Zimmer Knee Replacement Problems

Patients who have complained of Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee replacement problems have experienced knee implant failure, knee pain and other complications. Loosening of Zimmer replacement knees has also been reported. Symptoms of this Zimmer knee implant complication may include:

• Knee stiffness
• Constant knee pain
• Limping
• Trouble placing weight on the knee
• Diminished joint movement

A major reason for knee implant failure is a loosening of the knee replacement. Patients who have experienced unexplained knee pain or difficulty walking after surgery should speak with their doctor, as they may be experiencing early Zimmer knee implant failure.

Zimmer Knee Implant Lawsuits

Traditional knee replacement systems should last nearly 15 years, but research suggests that the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee implant can fail in three years or less. As a result of the knee implant’s early failure rate, along with the possibility of a Zimmer knee implant recall, our defective product lawyers are interested in hearing from patients who experienced problems with the Zimmer knee implant.

According to new reports, the Zimmer NexGen CR-Flex knee replacements can fail at an unexpectedly high rate within a few years of surgery. The system’s high failure rate has not prompted a withdrawal of Zimmer knee implants (NexGen CR-Flex) from the U.S. market; however, several prominent knee surgeons have asked for a Zimmer knee implant recall and advised against implanting certain Zimmer replacement systems due to the product’s high occurrence of knee implant loosening and revision surgery.

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