An Ohio man has joined the Zimmer Durom cup MDL (multidistrict litigation) with his own metal hip implant lawsuit, alleging the company’s Durom cup had caused him to undergo revision surgery.

By joining the Zimmer Durom cup MDL, the claim will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid issues like conflicting rulings from different judges.

Plaintiff Christopher D. joined the Zimmer Durom cup MDL after allegedly discovering the high failure rates associated with the company’s Durom cup hip implant component. Christopher alleges that as a direct result of the defective nature of the Durom cup, his medical condition worsened and he needed to undergo revision surgery.

After reviewing the company’s marketing materials, Christopher says he opted to get the Zimmer Durom Cup hip implant after being convinced it was an ideal choice for his condition. The metal hip implant Christopher opted for included the Durom cup, with the company stating it was coated with a porous surface that is meant to help ease bone interaction.

The Durom cup has circumferential equatorial fins that hold it in place, which is meant to help achieve permanent fixation. With these marketing statements in mind, Christopher underwent total left hip replacement on April 23, 2007. However, a few years after he had the metal hip implant implemented, Christopher began experiencing severe pain and developed mobility issues.

Christopher eventually underwent revision surgery on Jan. 11, 2016, where it was discovered he had developed metallosis and device loosening. Even after his revision surgery, Christopher says, he continues to contend with pain and mounting medical expenses.

Not long after his revision surgery, Christopher opted to join the growing Zimmer Durom cup MDL after discovering the company either knew or should have known about allegedly defective nature of their metal hip component.

Overview of Zimmer Durom Cup Problems

The Zimmer Durom cup was approved through the FDA’s 510(k) process, which means the product was quickly approved without more rigorous preclinical testing. According to Christopher and patients like him, the Durom cup became widely associated with a high failure rate and serious metal hip implant complications.

These Durom complications eventually resulted in the company previously paying a settlement of $9.2 million, after a patient alleged the defective nature of the implant component forced him to undergo revision surgery.

Metal on metal hip implant problems often stem from the all metal ball and socket joint components interacting, causing metal ions to be shed into the bloodstream. This can lead to a multitude of problems for patients, including device failure, device loosening, infection, fretting, and formation of pseudotumors.

Often, patients are forced to undergo revision surgery to fix these problems. Some patients blame that need for revision surgery on alleged negligence by Zimmer. When metal on metal hip implants were first released to the market, they were thought to be overtly superior to plastic and ceramic models. This has reportedly not been the case for Christopher and other patients.

Christopher is filing his claim in Zimmer Durom cup MDL No. 2158, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries. Christopher alleges Zimmer knew the defective nature of the Durom cup but failed to warn him and his orthopedic doctor against potential side effects.

This Zimmer Metal Hip Implant Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-00464-SDW-SCM, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.