|
Always consult your licensed physician for diagnoses of any suspected health problem / concern. The information below is general in nature and only for your general convenience and interest.
The potential complications from knee surgery are essentially the same as all joint replacement surgeries – joint infection, deep vein thrombosis, nerve injuries, persistent stiffness and actual prosthesis failure are unwelcome and uncommon occurrences. Even the most serious ‘common’ problem, infection, occurs in less than 1% of patients, and knee replacement surgery is reported to have a 96 – 97% success rate, consistent with the figures for hip replacement surgeries. Failure of the implant:
Knee replacements surgery is relatively new and unstudied in its current form, but most sources seem to quote ten to fifteen years as the amount of time a knee replacement can be expected to last, with many functioning well for far longer periods of time.
When an implant fails, the parts can come loose or even wear out – in any case, surgery would again be required. These revision surgeries are much more technically difficult than the first surgery for a number of reasons, including quality of the remaining bone and individual characteristics of the incisions and type of implant system. Complications on revision surgery are much more likely.
Why the implant fails can be as simple as traumatic injury or the gradual wear and tear of use.
Some of the most common signs that knee replacement may be failing:
WARMTH – when surgery is first done, the joint may feel warm, which subsides over time. In the case of implant failure the joint warmth may recur, and there may also be redness at the site. Osteolysis leading to Loosening of the Implants:
Over time, particle irritation from the implant weakens the knee bones. These microscopic fragments are shed as the parts of the knee replacement prostheses rub against each other; the tiny particles cause irritation to the tissues around the implant, and weakening of the bone. Even though modern knee implants are made of tough and resilient material, very small amounts of these microscopic particles can damage the bone around the knee replacements, leading to swelling and loosening.
Pain:
Mechanical breakdown of the implant itself can occur; the plastic can fracture or break, and fragments then float and get lodged in the knee. The reasons for this can be excessive or abnormal wear and rear, poorly done surgery, or a defective implant system. The pain can be mild or severe.
A feeling that the knee wants to give out:
The feeling that the knee is unstable can occur when the plastic spacer implanted in the knee has worn down, loosening the ligaments holding the knee in place and allowing too much mobility in the joint.
Alleged Defective Implant: Zimmer NexGen® knee replacement:
The Zimmer NexGen® knee replacement implant has been found to have an unacceptably high rate of failure according to various reports, including, loosening, pain and other complications.
From the Zimmer Holdings website: “The NexGen® CR, a "cruciate retaining" implant, is intended for patients who, in the physician's judgment, have good bone stock and whose ligaments provide adequate joint stability. The CR is frequently used for patients undergoing a "primary" or first time total knee replacement surgery. The CR is designed to help accommodate people with the ability and desire to perform activities that require at least 0-120 degrees of flexion such as, walking, sitting, and climbing stairs.” The most commonly used method of implanting an artificial knee is by using an adhesive to bond the thigh bone to the portion of the device that bends, cementing the two together. Some specialists avoid adhesives because cement can break down, causing failure of the device. Because of this, Zimmer sells an uncemented version of the CR-Flex that relies on the bone naturally growing into the implant. This uncemented version is the source of the problems and complaints.
The Zimmer NexGen® CR-Flex Porous Femoral components are replacement knee products that have been associated with a relatively high number of reports of:
• Loosening of Replacement Knees (50% in study mentioned above)
• Knee replacement failure
• Surgery required to correct complications
• Other knee complications and pain
These problems could include:
• Unexplained pain after knee replacement
• Loosening of replacement knee
• Revision knee surgery to correct problems with a Zimmer knee replacement
Options
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured after surgical implantation with any of the Zimmer NexGen® CR femoral components, please contact us immediately for a free consultation. Delay may cause you to lose your potential legal rights due to the passing of the statute of limitations period. Examples of problems with a knee replacement could include:
• Unexplained pain after knee replacement
• Loosening of replacement knee
• Revision knee surgery to correct problems with a knee replacement
Contact DrugRxRecall's affiliated attorneys now at 1-888-446-8087. Or, you may simply fill out a form on this website.
Always consult your licensed physician for diagnoses of any suspected health problem / concern. The information contained on this website is general in nature and only for your general convenience and interest.
We thank wikipedia for some of the research material found in this article.
|
