Health authorities in Australia have recalled the Smith & Nephew Journey BCS knee replacement after linking it to a 7% five-year failure rate. If your defective knee implant caused pain, loosening, failure, or revision surgery, contact our lawyers regarding a Journey BCS knee lawsuit.
What You Can Do & How a Journey BCS Knee Lawsuit Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Smith & Nephew Journey BCS knee replacement induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by a defective knee implant, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Overview of the Journey BCS Knee
Smith & Nephew manufactures the Journey Bi-Cruciate Stabilized (BCS) Knee Replacement System, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2007. It is marketed to improve knee motion in men and women. It provides function for both the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).
Australian Health Authorities Issue Journey BCS Knee Recall
In January 2014, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recalled the Smith & Nephew Journey BCS knee replacement. After reviewing a national registry of joint replacements, they found that the Journey BCS had double the risk of failure and revision surgery compared to other knee replacements:
- Journey BCS linked to a 7% yearly failure rate at five years, compared to 3.8% with other knee replacements.
- Journey BCS linked to revision surgery rate of 1.59 per 100 observed component years, compared to 0.72 for other knee implants.
What is the problem?
In the recall notification, the TGA warned that the femoral component of the Journey BCS may be defective:
“The femoral implant / tibial baseplate combination of the Journey BCS knee replacement system is having a higher than expected revision rate when compared to all other primary total knee replacements.”
Defective Knee Replacement Side Effects
Australian health officials noted that the reason for revision surgery with the Journey BCS included problems that are typical of other knee implants, but it was linked to a higher rate of revision surgery due to patellofemoral pain, unspecified pain, and instability.
Complications a defective knee implant may include:
- Pain, inflammation, swelling
- Loose or unstable knee
- Tissue and nerve damage
- Bone fracture
- Infection
- Bone loss (osteolysis)
- Revision surgery
- Decreased mobility
- And more
Additional Resources
- Smith & Nephew Journey Knee Recall — Journey BCS, Journey II Uni Tibial Baseplate
- Journey BCS recall announcement – Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
Do I have a Journey BCS Knee Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Smith & Nephew Journey BCS knee replacement induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by a defective knee implant, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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