Medical Negligence Associate Solicitor
In December 2022, it was reported that over 10,000 NHS patients have been given faulty knee replacements which could require a secondary surgery within the next 10 years. The NexGen Zimmer Biomets are the second most used brand of knee implants in the UK. They’re frequently recommended by doctors, but they’ve been failing at an unacceptably high rate. These failures mean many people may be able to claim medical compensation.
Knee replacements are expected to last over 15 years. However, worrying statistics reveal the implant has been shown to fail in up to 7% of patients after 10 years. This is double the accepted failure rate of 3.5%, set by the National Joint Registry.
One of the most common issues identified is with the tibial component. This is the bit which attaches the device to the lower leg. It has a high rate of failure and can cause severe pain and discomfort. One concerning study even shows a 17.6% failure rate after just 5 years. The National Joint Registry said that so far they had identified 350 people who needed a second operation within ten years due to ‘aseptic loosening’.
The NexGen product was voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, a US firm named Zimmer Biomet, in October 2022, despite concerns being raised over NexGen several years ago. However, this is little help to those who have already been fitted with the faulty knee replacement. In the meantime, many people have lived with expensive medical costs and severe pain, waiting for a solution.
Following a review, The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that it would issue a ban on the implant, which has been in use since 2003. The Chief Safety Officer at The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Dr Alison Cave, told The Daily Telegraph:
“We are actively working with relevant stakeholders and reviewing all available evidence from a range of sources on the concerns raised on the performance of the NexGen knee implant.”
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulates medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK. The MHRA is an executive agency which is sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care. They seek to put patients first in everything they do, right across the lifecycle of the products they regulate. They rigorously use science and data to inform their decisions, enable medical innovation and to make sure that medicines and healthcare products available in the UK are safe and effective.
Additionally, a spokesperson for Zimmer Biomet said:
“We are working closely with regulatory authorities on this voluntary recall and information will be sent to surgeons informing them of the details pertaining to this recall next week. At that time, information will also be made available on our website.”
Zimmer Biomet was founded in 1927 and since then has been said to have been setting the standard for excellence in orthopaedics. They state that they remain deeply committed to making their ambition of alleviating pain and improving the quality of life for people all around the world a reality by developing, researching and investing in cutting edge implants, digital technology, and infrastructure. They hope that this will enhance relationships between healthcare providers and patients, optimise surgical procedures and personalise treatment.
They have clients in over 100 countries with operations taking place in more than 25 countries. Their global team works collaboratively, sharing knowledge across disciplines and forging connections with hospitals, patients and surgeons. In doing so, they aim to show gratitude for the contributions and diverse perspectives of all team members and commit to the highest standards of patient safety, quality, and integrity
To achieve their aims, they focus their resources in areas where they believe they will be able to make a difference and aim to ensure the company’s return is equivalent to the value we provide our customers and patients in order to give back to our communities and people in need.
It is estimated that more than 100,000 people have hip and knee replacements on the NHS every year. Both operations cost around £5,000 each. The majority of patients have either severe arthritis or have fractured their joints and struggle to carry out basic daily tasks. Replacements tend to be made of plastic, metal or ceramic — and usually last for at least 15 years.
If you or a loved one have experienced the damaging effects of the NexGen implant knee replacements, you can get in touch with our expert Medical Negligence Solicitors.
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Medical mistakes can and do occasionally happen, resulting in life-changing injuries for patients. For example, a surgeon may fail to remove surgical instruments, sponges, swabs or gauzes, which can have lasting consequences on a patient.
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Zimmer Biomet. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.zimmerbiomet.eu/en/about-us (Accessed: December 30, 2023).
UK Government. (n.d.). Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. About. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency/about (Accessed: December 30, 2023).
UK Government. (n.d.). Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency (Accessed: December 30, 2023).
National Joint Registry for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.njrcentre.org.uk/ (Accessed: December 30, 2023).
Daily Mail. (2023, January 26). Faulty knee replacements given to 10,000 patients. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11505967/Faulty-knee-replacements-given-10-000-patients.html (Accessed: December 30, 2023).
Kate joined the Clinical Negligence department at Simpson Millar in January 2023 after previously working at Chris Kallis Solicitors in Plymouth. Kate qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and has developed extensive experience in both Personal Injury and Medical Negligence.
Initially Kate started working as a Defendant Solicitor for firms such as Bond Pearce LLP and DAC Beachcroft Claims Ltd. This has allowed Kate to develop a tactical advantage to her cases, using the experience of how a claim is dealt with from a Defendant’s perspective.
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