Smith & Nephew Hip Implant Recall Lawsuit
- Over 40 Years of Experience
- More Than $3 Billion Won for Our Clients
- Thousands of Lives Changed
Smith & Nephew has recalled several of its metal-on-metal hip implant products due to reports of dangerous side effects, including infections and premature device failure caused by fractures and dislocations.
If you suffered an injury from one of these defective products, you should contact a reputable attorney to find out if you can file a Smith & Nephew hip implant recall lawsuit to obtain compensation. The defective medical device attorneys at Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC have decades of combined experience recovering over $3 billion in verdicts and settlements.
Your initial consultation with our attorneys is absolutely free and you will not be charged legal fees unless there is a favorable resolution of your claim.
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Find out today if you are eligible for compensation.
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Dangerous Hip Implants from Smith & Nephew
Smith & Nephew produces a variety of joint replacement products, with hip implants and replacements making up a large part of its business.
Unfortunately, several of these metal-on-metal implants have been linked to severe side effects that cause serious injuries.
Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System
The Birmingham hip resurfacing (BHR) system is a femoral head component and a spherical cup that comes in 12 different sizes to accommodate differences in patient’s bodies. The cup is designed to fit into a patient’s hip socket and rub against the femoral head when the patient moves his or her hip. The device components are made of cobalt and chromium metal alloys, making them metal-on-metal implants.
This product is used in patients who need a partial hip resurfacing or those who need a complete hip replacement.
The advantage to the BHR system is that it is designed in a way that is intended to reduce the risk of dislocation and device failure.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the BHR for sale in the U.S. on May 9, 2006 through the premarket approval process. This is the most stringent approval process for a medical device.
Problems with the BHR System
However, Smith & Nephew took the BHR system off the market in June 2015 due to high rates of failure, especially in female patients and those with smaller hip joints.
These devices cause some of the same problems as other metal-on-metal implants. For instance, some patients have toxic levels of cobalt and chromium in their bodies. This can cause a variety of severe symptoms, including:
- Pain
- Adverse local tissue reaction
- Pseudotumors, also known as false brain tumors
- Necrosis, or death of cells, in bones and tissues
- Metallosis, or build-up of metal debris in soft tissue
Patients often need revision surgery to correct these medical issues.
Research on Dangers of BHR System
One of the best indicators of the effectiveness of a medical device, such as a hip implant, is the rate of revision. This means the rate at which the device fails and requires revision surgery.
The BHR system has a seven-year revision rate of 11.76 percent, according to data from the National Joint Registry of England and Wales. That is much higher than the acceptable failure rate for these types of devices, which are expected to last 10 to 20 years.
In 2015, the National Joint Replacement Registry of Australia (NJRRA) compiled data on revisions rates for BHR implants for women. The data showed that the 10-year revision rate for women implanted with this device was 14.5 percent.
The NJRRA reviewed revision rates again in 2016 and the rate for women had declined slightly to 14.2.
Lawsuits Over BHR System
In April 2017, dozens of Smith & Nephew hip implant recall lawsuits over problems with the BHR system were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation in Maryland.
R3 Acetabular System
This device consists of:
- Hip socket composed of plastic, metal or ceramic material
- Head made of Oxinum, cobalt chrome or Biolox ceramic
- Liner made of Oxinum, metal, ceramics or XLPE plastic
These pieces can all be combined with several different types of stems, which allows surgeons to tailor the device to the patient.
The advantage of the R3 system, is that the liner has a better fit in the acetabular cup. This is supposed to enhance the range of motion while lowering the risk of loosening, dislocation or damaging nerves.
This product was made available in the U.S. in 2009, with 3,000 to 4,000 of the devices being distributed before the metal liners were recalled on June 1, 2012.
The liners were associated with dangerous side effects, such as implant dislocation, infection and bone fractures that required patients to have revision surgery. Approximately 7,700 patients were implanted with the metal liner before the recall and many of them had to have revision surgery.
There was also analysis of clinical results showing that 1.6 percent of patients who received these implants needed revision surgery each year. That is higher than the 1 percent guideline from Britain’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
Modular Hip Systems
In November 2016, Smith & Nephew recalled the Modular SMF and Redapt femoral hip systems, along with the hip stem components used with these products. The company decided to do the recall because the amount of adverse events and complaints was higher than expected.
Smith & Nephew found that patients implanted with these devices had a higher risk of revision surgery than patients who had implants that were less adaptable.
Forms of Compensation Available
Injuries from Smith & Nephew hip implant products could create significant medical expenses for years to come. These injuries can also create prolonged pain and suffering, making it difficult to work, do things with your family, or engage in the leisure activities you used to enjoy.
That is why the law allows people who were injured by defective medical devices to file class action lawsuits to recover various forms of compensation for the damages they have suffered. While compensation cannot change what happened, it can provide the funding you need to make the best recovery possible, given your injuries.
There may be many forms of compensation available in a Smith & Nephew hip implant recall lawsuit, including:
Economic Compensation
This includes any damages that have specific monetary values associated with them, such as:
- Bills for revision surgeries, hospital stays, transportation in an ambulance, etc.
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Doctors’ visits, including visits to specialists
- Lost wages from missed time at work
- Attorneys’ fees
- Prescription medications
- MRIs, CT scans and blood tests to find metal debris in the blood
- Lost earning capacity
- Crutches, wheelchairs, mobility aids and other durable medical equipment
Non-Economic Compensation
This covers damages that do not have a specific monetary value associated with them, including:
- Pain and suffering (such as physical pain from your injuries and emotional suffering, including depression, anxiety and mental anguish)
- Loss of enjoyment of leisure activities or hobbies you previously enjoyed
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
Punitive Damages
This form of compensation is not based on any of the specific damages the claimant has suffered. It is only available in cases of gross or extreme negligence on the part of the defendant. The purpose of this form of compensation is not to make the claimant whole again, but to punish the defendant for its conduct and hopefully prevent other corporations or individuals from engaging in the same conduct in the future.
Find out if Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC’s experienced personal injury attorneys can file a Smith & Nephew hip implant recall lawsuit to recover any of these forms of compensation.
Call 1-877-692-3862 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form.
Why You Should Choose an Experienced Class Action Lawyer
There are many factors affecting the success of your Smith & Nephew hip implant recall lawsuit, but one of the most important is the quality of the attorney you choose to represent you.
The attorneys at Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC have a long track record of achieving justice and recovering compensation for our clients. These are some of the many ways we can help improve the odds of success in your Smith & Nephew hip implant recall lawsuit:
Managing Every Aspect of the Case
Class action lawsuits are more complicated than standard personal injury lawsuits. Fortunately, our attorneys have handled numerous class action cases over the years and are prepared to manage every aspect of your claim, from beginning to end.
We will also carefully explain what information we need from you and how you can help throughout the process.
We want our clients to have as much time as possible to focus on recovering from their injuries and trying to get their lives back on track.
Conducting a Comprehensive Investigation
The quality of an investigation in a class action lawsuit goes a long way in determining the strength of your case and your chances of having a successful outcome.
At Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC we will start investigation once your case is signed. Our goal is to collect as much information as we can to show how the device manufacturer was negligent in creating a device or providing adequate warnings to doctors and consumers about potential risks. We will collect a variety of information, including:
- Medical records to show all of the ways the injury has affected you
- Research showing the dangers of Smith & Nephew hip implant products
- Statements and testimony from medical experts explaining how these devices cause injuries to patients
Accurately Valuing Your Claim
Our clients are our number one priority in every case we take on. We want them to obtain all of the compensation they deserve.
That is why we go to great lengths to accurately value all of the forms of compensation our clients are entitled. We will help you collect bills and receipts for all of the medical care you have received. We will also help you document all lost wages from your job.
More importantly, we know how to accurately value non-economic damages, which are often just as bad or worse than economic damages.
We have represented clients from all over the nation and know what it takes to obtain the greatest compensation possible.
Taking Your Case to Trial if Necessary
While some class actions end up settling out of court, others go to trial. Our attorneys are prepared for either outcome with your Smith & Nephew hip implant recall lawsuit.
Find Out if You Can File a Smith & Nephew Hip Implant Recall Lawsuit
Have you suffered complications or side effects from a Smith & Nephew hip implant?
Contact our skilled attorneys to find out if you can file a Smith & Nephew hip implant recall lawsuit to recover compensation. We are prepared to guide you every step of the way and aggressively pursue all of the compensation you deserve.
We work on a contingency fee basis and do not receive compensation unless our clients do first.
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