Camp Lejeune US Marine Corp Base Water Contamination Poe Hall Affected Individuals Click Here! ×
Whitley Law Firm Injury Lawyers
  • About
    • Our Attorneys
      • Bob E. Whitley
      • Benjamin H. Whitley
      • Barrett Johnson
      • Jack Keener
      • Matthew Bissette
      • Ryan McCollum
      • Gabe Talton
      • Shelsey Hall
      • Dak Lee
    • Case Results
    • Blog
  • Practice Areas
    • Car Accident
    • Wrongful Death
    • Truck Accident
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Construction Accident
    • Motorcycle Accident
    • Pedestrian Accident
    • Dog Bite
    • Premises Liability
    • Product Liability
      • Allergen Breast Implants
      • Hair Relaxer
      • Paragard IUD
      • Paraquat
      • Roundup
      • Talcum Powder
    • Dangerous Drugs
      • Belviq
      • Depo-Provera
      • Elmiron
      • Mounjaro/Ozempic
      • Tepezza
      • Valsartan
    • Defective Medical Devices
      • Exactech Hip Implants
      • Medtronic Insulin Pump
      • Penumbra
      • Powerport
      • Inferior Vena Cava
    • View All Practice Areas
  • Areas We Serve
    • Raleigh
    • Charlotte
    • Winston-Salem
    • Durham
    • Cary
    • Greenville
    • View All Areas We Serve
  • Community
    • Community Cares
    • In the Community
    • Free ‘Attorney on Call’ Book
    • Scholarship
  • FAQs
  • Videos
    • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
    • Free Case Evaluation
    • Careers
    • Business Opportunities
    • Free “Attorney on Call” Book
    • Press Opportunity
  • En Español
Call Now—Free & Confidential (800) 785-5000
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Blog
  4. »
  5. Smith & Nephew’s BHR Still Causing Injuries, Plaintiffs Allege 
On This Page
  1. History of Hip Replacement Surgery Products
  2. Current Litigation for BHR and R3 Hip Replacement Systems
  3. Contact an Attorney Today

Get Free Advice About
The Compensation
You Deserve

Have a case?

Smith & Nephew’s BHR Still Causing Injuries, Plaintiffs Allege 

Courtroom 898931 1920

Smith & Nephew was an early medical device company in the U.S. to obtain approval for their metal-on-metal hip replacement system named the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) system. The ‘pure’ BHR resurfacing hip surgery was soon adapted into the R3 Acetabular Total Hip Replacement (R3) system that placed a metal liner between the cup and head of the femur.

These hip replacement implants were first advertised as superior to other implants due to their durability, touting a lifetime of more than 20 years, and their ability to provide patients with greater mobility and return to active lifestyle.

However, many patients who had the BHR or R3 system found that there was early device failure. The implant was soon linked to metallosis, a life-threatening illness caused by toxic metal debris being released into the body and bloodstream. Other complications associated with this medical device are psuedotumors, pain, and the need for a difficult revision surgery to remove the device prematurely.

As a result, recipients of the medical device are pursuing lawsuits that claim Smith & Nephew knew their product was defective and could cause serious illness yet failed to properly warn doctors and patients. With the BHR continuing to be implanted in all patients through late 2015, there are many patients whose BHR and R3 hips are only now failing and requiring revision surgeries.

History of Hip Replacement Surgery Products

For hip replacement surgery, historically the most common procedure involved a total hip replacement. This is where the femoral head and neck are removed and completely replaced and a large femoral stem is inserted into the patient’s thigh. Smith & Nephew promoted BHR as being more bone conserving, since it allowed for the femoral head to be trimmed and capped with metal.

The BHR was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006 and was placed on the market shortly thereafter. However, the company issued a market withdrawal of BHR in September 2015. Similarly, the R3 metal liner was introduced to the U.S. market in 2008 and was recalled in 2012.

The Whitley Advantage isn’t just one thing – it’s everything.

Contact Us Today For a FREE Confidential Case Review (800) 785-5000

Current Litigation for BHR and R3 Hip Replacement Systems

There have been lawsuits against Smith & Nephew regarding the BHR and R3 for several years, but it was not until April 2017 when the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation combined the first 28 cases into the multidistrict litigation (MDL) that exists today. It is important to remember that an MDL is not the same as a class action – these are individual lawsuits that are being pursued on behalf of the individual who received the faulty BHR or R3 implant.  The MDL allows for cases like these that are similar to be consolidated for pretrial proceedings and work-up.

Contact an Attorney Today

There are still many recipients of the BHR and R3 technologies that do not know they may be entitled to compensation. For those who received a BHR or R3 hip between 2006 and 2015 and have had to undergo a revision surgery or are in the process of scheduling a revision or removal surgery,  it is important to speak with an attorney to make sure to preserve any claims that individual may have.

The Attorneys at The Whitley Law Firm have experience dealing with negligent medical device manufacturers and understand the complexities that arise in cases like these. Contact a Whitley Law Firm Attorney today.

Learn about what makes us unique and why we are the right firm to help you.

Contact Us Today For a FREE Confidential Case Review (800) 785-5000
Defective Products Blog Posts:
Who is to Blame For Defective Products?

Who is to Blame For Defective Products?

In the legal community, a defective or dangerous product is a product that is considered unreasonably safe for its

26191535503 46acdc1baa b

Talcum Powder Causes Wrongful Death, Johnson & Johnson to Pay $72M

A St. Louis jury has determined that pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) should pay a total of $72

Inferior vena cava filter

Complications Associated with IVC Filters

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are small, cage-like devices that are fitted in the vena cava to prevent blood clots

Zavádění spirály essure

Major Safety Concerns Surround Essure Sterilization Device

Since Bayer’s sterilization device – also known as a permanent form of birth control – Essure showed up on the

Benjamin H. Whitley

Benjamin H. Whitley

Attorney

Free Case Evaluation

To contact us by e-mail, please complete and submit the form below. Your question will be answered within 24 hours.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

  • Bicycle Accident
  • Boating
  • Brain Injury
  • Burn Injury
  • Bus Accident
  • Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Claims
  • Car Accident
  • Civil Lawsuits
  • Class Action
  • Community
  • Construction Accidents
  • COVID-19
  • Dangerous Drugs
  • Defective Products
  • Dog Bite
  • Firm News
  • In the News
  • Insurance
  • IVC Filter
  • Metal Hip Replacement
  • Motorcycle Accident
  • Naturalyte
  • News
  • Pedestrian
  • Personal Injury
  • Pharmacy Malpractice
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Safety
  • Slip and Fall
  • Social Security
  • Talcum Powder
  • Truck Accident
  • Uncategorized
  • Workers Compensation
  • Wrongful Death
Find Yourself a Passionate Lawyer Now!
  • Raleigh Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Kinston Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Greenville Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Greensboro Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Winston Salem Personal Injury Lawyer
  • New Bern Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Durham Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Burlington Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Chapel Hill Personal Injury Lawyer

FAQs

What Type of Damages Can Be Recovered Following a Car Accident?

What Type of Damages Can Be Recovered Following a Car Accident?

What Types of On-The-Job Illnesses are Compensable?

What Types of On-The-Job Illnesses are Compensable?

What Types of Damages are Compensable in a Wrongful Death Claim?

What Types of Damages are Compensable in a Wrongful Death Claim?

FREE Case Evaluation

To contact us by e-mail, please complete and submit the form below. Your question will be answered within 24 hours.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get our latest news and updates delivered
directly to your inbox

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Whitley Law Firm Injury Lawyers

The Whitley Law Firm believes in giving back to the communities in which we live and work.

The Whitley Law Firm BBB Business Review

Important Links

  • About us
  • Testimonials
  • Case Results
  • Community Support
  • Car Accident Lawyers
  • Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
  • Free Case Evaluation

Areas Served

  • Raleigh
  • Greenville
  • Kinston
  • Jacksonville
  • New Bern
  • Winston-Salem
  • Durham
  • Burlington
  • Cary
  • Chapel Hill
  • Fayetteville
  • Greensboro
  • Rocky Mount
  • Southern Pines
  • Wake Forest
  • Wilson

Contact Info

1000 Social St. Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27609
Get Directions
(800) 785-5000

© Copyright 2025 Whitley Law Firm Injury Lawyers.
All Rights Reserved.
Past results do not guarantee future success

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Giveaway Terms
  • Sitemap
Hennessey-Digital-Badge