Texas Smith & Nephew Hip Problems

Texas Smith & Nephew Hip Problems. Smith & Nephew is a major medical device manufacturer headquartered in the United Kingdom and has its corporate offices in Memphis, TN. Smith & Nephew is under fire over its metal-on-metal hip resurfacing product known as the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System (BHR). Smith & Nephew’s annual sale in 2016 was reported at more than $4.6 billion dollars.

Smith & Nephew BHR Hip Implant Cleared by the FDA

The BHR Hip implant product was approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration in 2006. Since becoming available on the market it is estimated there have been over 175,000 BHR hip implants implantations worldwide.

What is the Smith & Nephew BHR Hip Implant?

The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System contains two main parts: the resurfacing Femoral head and the Acetabular Cup. The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System is a cobalt chrome molybdenum (CoCrMo) alloy metal-on-metal implant.

According to Smith & Nephew’s chief marketing pitch, the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System needs less bone removal and may not require replacing the completely worn out femur bone. Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System is targeted for younger patients who may be more active than older adults.

What are the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Problems?

Smith & Nephew issued a recall of the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System on June 4, 2015, noting a recent National Joint Registry of England and Wales data study and its own post-market data, which found high failure rates and reports of injuries and metallosis or cobalt toxicity.

The hip recall pertains to the people who require implant head sizes 48mm or smaller.

Smith & Nephew has identified the several risk factors which may lead to premature failure and early revision

• Patients implanted with a 48mm femoral head
• Patients implanted with a device incorrectly positioned
• Patients having avascular necrosis
• Patients having congenital dysplasia
• Patients who are obese

Texas Smith and Nephew BHR Failure Lawsuit

Linda Taylor from Texas filed her personal injury claim against Smith and Nephew in the Southern District of Texas in January 2017. According to Taylor, she had a Smith & Nephew Birmingham hip implanted in 2007 and then developed premature failure of her BHR hip implant with metallosis.

According to medical studies, hip implant devices are expected to last between 10 and 20 years but Taylor had to undergo revision surgery just eight years after receiving the hip implant due to hip pain and premature hip failure.

The FDA approved the BHR hip implant in May 2006, requiring Smith & Nephew to meet post-marketing surveillance and reporting requirements designed to ensure that in real-world use, the hip replacement system was safe and effective. However, Taylor’s lawsuit alleges that the company failed to do so.

Injured by the Smith and Nephew Birmingham Metal Hip?

If you think you may have Smith & Nephew Birmingham Resurfacing metal hip device and are experiencing pain caused by metal corrosion or have suffered premature hip failure requiring full revision and emergency care, please call Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm at 214-390-3189. We are based in Dallas, Texas and handle Smith and Nephew premature hip failure injury cases nationwide.