As knee implant attorneys, we are blogging on the Zimmer NexGen knee replacement component which was the subject of an FDA recall . This is the first in a series of posts providing information regarding some of the Zimmer knee implant component parts. We hope these posts will be helpful to any knee replacement patient.
Zimmer Knee Background
On September 13, 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued FDA Recall No. Z 2409 010 entitled “NexGen Complete Knee Solutions MIS Tibial Components, Locking Screw and Stem Extensions” recall notice. This recall notice can be found at the FDA website.
This latest Zimmer recall was one in a series of knee joint replacement hardware recalls issues by the FDA. Zimmer’s track record over the years had been very good. However, this potential component problem is concerning to the medical community.
Given the sheer volume of knee implant patients who have had joint replacement surgery, it is fair to ask whether risks associated with knee implant surgery outweigh the benefits. This is the first in a series of posts that will discuss the evolution of knee replacement surgery in an effort to answer this question. We hope that this discussion may have particular interest to all patients who have had knee implant surgery whether or not the surgery involved the recalled Zimmer knee implant component.
History of Knee Implant Surgery
Knee replacement surgery was pioneered back in 1954 by surgeon L. G. P. Shiers. Research shows that Dr. Shiers was a true patient advocate and actually refused to patent his knee replacement technology. In doing so, Dr. Shiers gave up what could have been millions of dollars in royalties from the future sales of knee replacement technology. Instead, he traveled the world, teaching knee replacement surgery to other orthopaedic surgeons and medical students so they could pass on the benefits of knee joint replacement surgery to any patient who needed a knee replacement.
Knee replacement surgery, following the success and failures of hip replacement surgery, became more commonplace in the 1960s and the 1970s. It was billed as safe, effective, and an enormous benefit to any patient with osteoarthritis. Since that time, as with hip replacement surgery, knee replacement joint technology is constantly changing and modifying in an effort to improve patient outcomes in knee replacement patients.
Throughout the years, there have been many knee replacement part manufacturers (Zimmer, Stryker, DePuy, etc). These joint replacement manufacturers and others constantly compete to try and develop the “latest and greatest” knee implant components and techniques. The one constant challenge to all of these knee replacement manufacturers has been to limit the inevitable problems of implant loosening, wear and tear of the implant parts, and loss of the natural range of motion. As with all joint replacements, there still is not any suitable replacement for the body’s own anatomical structures.
Since the innovation of knee replacement surgery, there have been hundreds of thousands of patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery involving different techniques and various artificial knee components. Unfortunately, with each new “innovative” technology, there always is the potential for possible hardware failure problems, which could cause the patient to develop a new set of symptoms that conveniently replace the old ones. As a result, many patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery and have been subjected to these problems are left to wonder whether the surgery was worth it.
Knee Implant Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia
If you have recently undergone a knee replacement surgery and your recovery process is taking far longer than expected, you may want to find out if there is a problem with your knee replacement. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
For more information regarding the knee replacement concerns, visit the Mininno Law Office site dedicated solely to Zimmer knees.
Birth Injuries that commonly occur include Cerebral Palsy, Erb’s Palsy, face paralysis, bruises and swelling, Shoulder Dystocia, and brain damage. These injuries are generally brought on by oxygen deprivation and doctor error. Oxygen deprivation is commonly caused by umbilical cord compression, the improper insertion of an oxygen tube, Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (the baby inahles it’s own fecal matter or amniotic fluid), or excessive time spent in the birth canal. 
The Holiday Care Center located in Toms River, New Jersey. This nursing home was inspected routinely on 9 occasions and cited for 40 deficiencies during the period from December 2008 through November 2010. It was also necessary for the NJ Division of Health Facilities and Evaluation and Licensing to conduct 10 complaint inspections with 5 more deficiencies cited during this time period. Some of these citations were for failing to keep the rate of medication errors (wrong drug, wrong dose, wrong time) to less than 5%, for failing to have a program to keep infection from spreading, and failing to make sure that a residents nutritional needs are being met. These types and amount of deficiencies are those that lead to nursing home abuse. Patients’ families must remain vigilant when their loved one is in a for profit nursing home such as Holiday Care Center, to make sure that they are being cared for in an acceptable and effective manner.
Dr. Levine had long been accused of sexually abusing of his male patients, but always maintained his innocence. But not long ago, men began to come forward, describing incidents where they had seen Dr. Levine as children and been molested in his office. Some spoke of fondling during routine check-ups, and others even claim that Dr. Levine performed oral sex on them. 
Spears was able to leave this facility with his walker late at night, without any nursing home staff doing as much as asking him where he was going.
Two nights before President Obama’s State of the Union Address, Republican Phil Gingrey introduced a bill to the House that would severely limit the amount of compensation that victims of medical malpractice could receive. What’s a bit more interesting is who Phil Gingrey was before he sponsored a tort reform bill.
This Gloucester County nursing home, named Gloucester Manor Health Care Center, located in Sewell, New Jersey is a for profit partnership owned nursing home. It participates in both Medicare and Medicaid and has 139 long term beds at its disposal. During three routine inspections between December 2008 and November 2010, the Gloucester Manor Health Care Center was cited for an outrageous 56 separate deficiencies. Among the numerous deficiencies, the Manor Center was cited for the improper treatment to prevent bed (pressure) sores or to help heal those bed sores properly. In fact, actual harm for a few patients was found in this category. It was also determined that they failed to staff enough nurses to care for every resident in a way that maximizes the resident’s well being. Actual harm for a few was noted in this category as well. 
A Gag Order is a legal term used to describe an order issued by a judge that prohibits the release of information concerning a legal matter to the public, for fear that such an action may prejudice or influence a trial’s outcome. Lately, medical providers have been issuing their own kind of gag order, prohibiting their patients from utilizing physician rating websites to rate the treatment they received, or the experience they had. And while 
As we continue our series highlighting the below average nursing homes in New Jersey, today we will discuss a facility in Camden County. 
Eva Liberato was admitted to Westlake Hospital to deliver her baby in 2002. After hours of labor, she was given drugs to help induce contractions and dilation. The drugs caused the baby’s heart rate to slow and, instead of calling for the assistance of an obstetrician, her family doctor attempted to deliver the baby himself using, among other methods, forceps and a vacuum retractor.