The New York Times highlighted the frayed relationship between the top surgeon, Dr. Richard A. Berger and Zimmer Holdings, an orthopedic implant maker.

According to the article, Dr. Berger, a top surgeon, consultant, trainer, and artificial joint designer for Zimmer Holdings, began complaining to the company concerning the alleged premature failure of one of its artificial knees, the NexGen CR-Flex, an advanced version of the standard Zimmer knee, known as the NexGen. Dr. Berger then went public with the claim strengthened by a study that he confirms proves it. In response, Zimmer denied the claim and blamed the premature failure of the NexGen CR-Flex on Dr. Berger’s technique. Dr. Berger’s contract was not renewed the following year.

Dr. Lawrence Dorr, another major Zimmer consultant, alerted the company of the failure of one its artificial hip models, the Durom hip. As with Dr. Berger, Zimmer denied the claim and blamed the problem on Dr. Dorr’s technique.

American manufacturers of orthopedic devices, a $6.7 billion annual business, are not subject to the voluntary system of investigations by outside panels. Artificial joints, such as Zimmer’s NexGen knee and the Durom hip, are cleared for sale under law by the Food and Drug Administration without being subject to testing in patients. Moreover, the long-term performance of artificial joints is not tracked in the nation.

Bloomberg Businessweek also published an article that sheds light on surgeons’ conflicts of interest in recommending certain hip and knee implants over others. The article, titled, “New Hips Gone Awry Expose U.S. Kickbacks in Doctors’ Conflicts,” explains the government’s involvement in supervising the financial relationships between surgeons and major manufacturers of knees and hips due to the widespread ‘kickbacks’ that occur. Zimmer Holdings Inc. is listed as one of the major knee and hip manufacturers that cut physician payments as a result of the government’s intervention.

Read these full articles on the The New York Times and Bloomberg Businessweek websites. Learn more about Zimmer Durom Cup Hip Implant Injuries and the rights of victims.