Smith & Nephew Birmingham Resurfacing premature hip failure

Smith & Nephew Birmingham Resurfacing premature hip failure. Many metal hip manufacturers have been under fire for the past decade over the premature failure of their metal on metal hip designs.

Smith & Nephew Urgent Field Safety Recall Notice

The latest to face the premature metal hip failure crisis is Smith & Nephew which issued an urgent field safety notice updating the instructions for use of its Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System.

According to the notice, certain patients are more likely to require revision surgery after receiving a Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System implant.

These patients include females, men aged 65 or older, and patients who require an implant head equal to or smaller than 48mm. The field safety notice specifically applies the Resurfacing Head, Acetabular Cup, and Dysplasia Cup components of the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System.

The field safety notice specifically applies the Resurfacing Head, Acetabular Cup, and Dysplasia Cup components of the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System.

Who is Smith & Nephew?

Smith & Nephew, is a UK-based medical device manufacturer with U.S. headquarters in Memphis, TN.

What is the Birmingham Resurfacing System?

Hip resurfacing is an alternative surgical solution to total hip replacement; instead of replacing the worn-down femur head (thigh bone) with an artificial one, a metal cap is placed over the existing bone along with a matching metal socket, which is inserted in the acetabulum, or pelvic socket.

S&N Birmingham Resurfacing Hip Early Failure

Despite its promise of saving bone, many patients with the Birmingham Hip Replacement System have reported serious pain and injury from the failure of the device. Because of its metal-on-metal design, similar to other metal hip manufacturers, when the metal cap grinds against the metal cup, metallic cobalt and chromium debris are released into the bloodstream and local soft tissue.

This process is called metallosis. Metallosis is linked to extreme pain, tissue damage, loosening or dislocation of the implant, which requires revision surgery.

2nd Ride at the Recall Rodeo

Smith & Nephew has faced legal challenges because of premature failure of its total hip replacement devices. In June 2012, the company recalled the optional metal liner component of its R3 Acetabular System due to high rates of failure.

The R3 metal liner, which is inserted into the device’s metal pelvic socket, was originally designed for use with the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the R3 Acetabular System was never cleared for use with the R3 metal liner.

Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Multidistrict Litigation

Many Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing lawsuits have been filed nationwide, alleging that the metal hip system was defective and unreasonably dangerous, leading patients to develop metallosis and premature failures.

Recently, all Birmingham Hip Resurfacing cases are centralized and consolidated for pre-trial discovery before U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake in the District of Maryland.

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.