The Stanmore hip implant recall published earlier this year relates to the potential for some Modular Femoral Heads being contained in the incorrect packaging.
The urgent Field Safety Notice issued by Stanmore Implants – who are a part of the Stryker Corporation – outlines the issue and the potential dangers. It may be that patients could be fitted with the incorrect implant heads if the problem is not identified by surgeons and medical staff at the time of an operation.
As with most medical implant problems, this recall is a serious matter, and we have seen the damage that can be done to patients when things go wrong with hip implants.
About the Stanmore hip implant recall
The issues surrounding the Stanmore hip implant recall are outlined in a Field Safety Notice that has been issued by the company.
This confirms they discovered that a box labelled as 28mm Modular Femoral Head with a -3.5 offset did not contain the correct head. Instead, the head contained was a 28mm Head with a +3.5 offset.
Although the packaging was incorrect, the markings etched on the head were understood to be correct, which should hopefully be noticed by surgeons and medical staff to avoid the incorrect head being implanted.
The dangers of the issue identified
The initial Field Safety Notice confirmed that assessments were underway to determine potential hazards that may arise from the problem that has been identified. The Stanmore hip implant recall has been launched to allow medical staff the chance to quarantine any affected heads and raise the problem to hopefully avoid the incorrect head being implanted into a patient.
If the incorrect head is used and staff fail to notice the issue, it could be that the surgery time is prolonged or further surgery may theoretically be required. We can’t know for certain what may happen, but it all has the potential to lead to additional suffering for the patient.
Is this a common problem?
We see recalls like the Stanmore hip implant recall all the time. Information about these kinds of recalls are usually publicised by the companies who make the medical implants, and information is also relayed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
In rare cases, we see huge scandals like the PIP Breast Implant scandal, or the ongoing metal-on-metal hip implant problems. Sometimes, these recalls can affect hundreds of thousands of people around the world, and it’s our job to represent victims of injustice when scandals arise.
Hopefully, with the etchings on the implants said to be correct, no one will be injured or suffer as a result of this particular recall. Anyone who does suffer as a result of a medical implant problem can be entitled to claim for personal injury compensation.