Zimmer Durom Hip Replacement

Zimmer Durom Hip Replacement

What are hip implants?  Hip implants are artificial parts made of metal and durable plastic material that replace the ball and socket of the hip that have been damaged by arthritis. 

In a healthy hip joint, the femoral head, or ball portion, fits into the acetabulum, or socket portion, and moves within its natural fluid, helping to lubricate the joint during motion.  The surfaces of these bones where the ball and socket rub together are very smooth and covered with a tough protective tissue called cartilage.  However, various forms of arthritis cause damage to the bone surfaces and cartilage, eventually become painful as they wear.  There are various ways to treat the pain caused by arthritis, the most extreme being total hip replacement surgery in which the damaged ball and socket are removed and replaced with a hip implant. 

To duplicate this ball-and-socket joint’s normal action, a hip implant has three parts, each of which comes in various sizes to accommodate various body types: 

1.  The stem.  It fits into the femur and most stem portions are made of titanium- or cobalt/chromium-based alloys.  They come in different shapes and some have porous surfaces to allow for bone ingrowth;
2.  The ball.  It replaces the spherical head of the femur.  The ball portions are made of cobalt/chromium-based alloys or ceramic materials (aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide), which are polished smooth to allow easy rotation within the prosthetic socket; and
3.  The cup.  It replaces the worn out hip socket.  This portion can be made of metal, ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene, or a combination of polyethylene backed by metal.
In some designs, the stem and ball are one piece while in others they are modular, allowing for additional customization. Together these components weigh between 14 and 18 ounces, depending on the size needed.  There are many hip implant designs available, but there is no universal agreement as to which design is best.  However, all of the materials used in an implant have four characteristics in common:  they are biocompatible, meaning they function in the body without a rejection response; they are resistant to corrosion, degradation and wear; they have mechanical properties that duplicate the structures they are intended to replace; and they meet the highest standards.  Each surgeon selects the design based on several factors, including what he or she believes is best for the patient, what he or she was trained to use, the cost and performance record of the implant, or in some cases, what the hospital requires. 

People across the country have been having problems with Zimmer Durom Hip Replacements.  Experts estimate that between 5-8% of these replacements are defective and will eventually fail.  If you or a loved one has suffered from a defective Zimmer Durom Hip Replacement, please contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation.  Call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 or fill out the free case consulation form online.