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Home > Medical Devices > Knee Joint Replacements
Defective Zimmer Knee Joint Replacements Lawyers
in Denver and Nationwide
Almost all artificial knee joints contain a plastic separator known as an insert which is responsible for cushioning the impacts experienced by the implant. It is crucial that the insert be as durable as possible, since undue wear of the insert can result in failure of the entire implant, resulting in revision surgery to remove and replace the worn insert. Other possible complications of a worn insert include bone loss and the release of debris into the patient's body. The inserts used in most knee implants are made of an extremely durable plastic known as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, or UHMWPE.
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In the early 1990's, it became known that when UHMWPE was sterilized by a method known as gamma radiation in air, the insert would, over time, become inflexible and weak due to oxidation, especially if there was an extended time between the sterilization and implantation in the patient. Many implant manufacturers switched to other methods of sterilization; but surprisingly, some either continued to use gamma radiation in air, or switched to a safer form of sterilization but chose not to recall the inserts, allowing their remaining supplies to be sold for storage and later implantation in patients. Unfortunately, inserts sterilized by the defective gamma radiation method continued to be sold and implanted in patients even into the late 1990's.
If you suffered from a broken or worn insert which made your knee painful and swollen and required revision surgery, we'd be happy to review your medical records to determine if your insert failed due to the sterilization problem and whether you have a viable case against Zimmer, Inc.
Contact the medical device attorneys at Burg Simpson today if you or your loved one has been the victim of injuries caused by a dangerous or defective medical device. Our attorneys will provide you with a free initial consultation, where we will listen to your problems and help you determine what the best course of action will be.
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