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In 2003 Zimmer Holdings, the world’s largest orthopedic device manufacturer, introduced a hip replacement device in Europe. Known as the Zimmer Durom Cup Hip Implant, it was used successfully in over 12,000 surgeries prior to being marketed in the United States starting in 2006. For some reason, though, its success rate has been spotty at best in the U.S. with hundreds of patients requiring revision surgery to correct problems with their implants. Lawsuits have erupted, and Zimmer has halted sales of the device pending better training methods.

Physicians who performed the unsuccessful surgeries claim that the Zimmer Cup is a defective piece of equipment. Zimmer counters with the fact that it has been so successful in Europe and contends that the surgeons must be at fault. They do agree, however, that surgeons have not had access to adequate training in the correct procedures to use when performing the implant and that this lack of training has been instrumental in the failure of the replacement surgeries. With this fact in mind, Zimmer voluntarily suspended U.S. implant sales until a method of training surgeons is in place. Sadly, some surgeons are still blaming the device itself and are unwilling to perform more implant surgeries no matter what kind of training they are offered.

Most U.S. states have laws giving compensation to patients who suffer from the effects of defective orthopedic devices and surgeries. The laws say that patients who sustain pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages due to these defects are entitled to be well compensated for everything they’ve endured if the device itself proves to be faulty. Naturally, hundreds of people whose lives have been destroyed by hip implant problems have filed lawsuits against Zimmer and the physicians who performed the operations. Both sides claim that the other side is to blame, and so the battle goes.

Hip implants have been recorded as early as 1891 when surgeons used ivory fittings in an attempt to replace the femoral head. It wasn’t until 1960, though, that a Burmese surgeon, Dr. San Baw, used ivory to try and replace broken hip bones which started the modern era of hip replacement surgery. During a 20-year period Dr. Baw did over 300 hip surgeries and claimed an 88% success rate.

During the 1970s a man named John Charnley was a pioneer in the development of a 3-part artificial hip joint. This innovative device, or some adaptation of it, was then used by surgeons for over 20 years. By 2003 Zimmer Holdings had introduced its Durom Cup implant in Europe, and it soon came to be known as the best implant on the market.

While hip replacement surgery and the replacement devices used have improved remarkably from the early years, the operation is still far from foolproof. The most common problem when using a Zimmer Durom Cup implant is that it is somewhat smaller than the original human joint and can slip out of the socket, especially if it isn’t implanted correctly. Implants are also prone to loosening over time and infections can set in. In spite of these risks, doctors still recommend the surgery for people with seriously damaged hip joints.

Zimmer Holdings is still working to develop the training that surgeons will need in order to perform Durom Cup implants successfully. They are also attempting to resolve all of the pending lawsuits surrounding the device. The company is adamant in its belief that the Durom Cup implant, when used correctly, will positively impact the lives of those needing hip replacement surgery, and they hope to get it back on the U.S. market soon.

Heparin injury can happen to people who take medication to deal with blood clotting. This may sound ironic, but one of the widely used drugs that are categorized as anticoagulants can actually cause more harm than good. Heparin is now being blamed for numerous cases of infections, allergic reactions, and even death in patients.

Heparin and heparin injury are things that the average American may not know about. But it is probably high time that everyone’s eyes are opened to see the side effects of improperly using this drug. One of the high profile cases connected to the use of heparin happened IN 2007, involving the twins of famous Hollywood star Dennis Quaid and wife Kimberly Buffington. Their kids were given heparin doses that were 1,000 times over the recommended amount. What’s more alarming is that this happened in one of the prominent hospitals in the country. Luckily, the twins survived the ordeal and people learned about the possible ill effects of this drug.

Still, there are other victims of heparin injury who are not as lucky. The usual Blunders on the administration of heparin can happen in the labeling. Several cases of mislabeling and misuse have been recorded ever since the drug was introduced back in the 1930s. And today, health institutions are also grappling with the problem of contaminated heparin.

As we all know, allergic reactions to drugs can be fatal. That is why many people are taking cases of medicine contamination seriously. This year, one case involved the use of A syringe tainted with Serratia marcescens, a deadly bacterium. Another case, which is believed to be responsible for some 80 fatalities in the United States, was caused by a Chinese manufacturers decision to replace one of the important heparin components with a cheaper ingredient.

Through the years, heparin has been a very effective drug that prevents blood clots. And it can be a huge lifesaver. But many patients have also suffered from heparin injury. True, many of the bad things that are being said about heparin are not about the drug itself, but rather about its misuse and contamination. Nevertheless, such carelessness had cost the health, or even the lives, of countless people.

The time of reckoning is now. If you are one of those who have suffered because of misuse or contamination of heparin, you should speak up and submit your case so you can be compensated for your suffering.