Smith & Nephew to remove hip device from market

4th Jun 2015 07:01

Medical technology group Smith & Nephew has chosen to remove one of its hip devices from the market, based on recent performance data.The removed device and its corresponding components accounted for around 1% of the company's global hip implant revenue in 2014, and 0.1% of group revenues and as such will have no impact on guidance for the full year.Analysis of the product, which is part of its Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) system, shows that revision rates associated with men requiring a device 46m in diameter or smaller, and with all women patients, exceed the current benchmark established by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). "Based on this information, Smith & Nephew considers that these patient groups may be at a greater risk of revision surgery than previously believed, and is therefore removing small sizes and updating the IFU to contraindicate the BHR for women," the company said.The performance of the BRH hip continued to be in line with the best total hip replacements in male patients under 65 requiring a device 50mm in diameter or larger.Chief medical officer Andy Weymann said: "Patient welfare is Smith & Nephew's top priority. Based on our analysis of our most recent data, we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that the BHR is only used in those patient groups where it has demonstrated strong performance. These represent the vast majority of current patients."The group stressed that none of the patients who have already been fitted with the component will need to do anything unless required to for clinical reasons.