The nation's biggest producer of orthopedic devices says it is suspending sales of an artificial hip component that some say is failing at high rates. Zimmer Holdings, based in Warsaw, is also lowering its earnings outlook due to the suspension; shares fell sharply yesterday. The Durom cup has been implanted in over 12,000 patients since it was first sold in the United States in 2006.

Doctors have been voicing complaints in recent months that the Zimmer devices—a hip socket known as the Durom cup—was failing in their patients. In those cases, the patients were required to undergo replacement surgery. Zimmer said its investigation determined that the Durom cup was not defective and that even some experienced surgeons found it difficult to implant the device. Zimmer said it expected to resume sales once it initiated specialized training for doctors.

Zimmer said it expected general need for early replacement of the device in patients to be low; however, Zimmer data and interviews with doctors suggest that hundreds of patients might need such procedures going forward.

Learn more about Zimmer Durom hip implant injuries and your legal rights.