Calif. Plaintiff Alleges Metallosis Risk in Smith & Nephew’s R3 Hip System

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A California man alleges in a recent complaint that certain configurations of Smith & Nephew’s R3 hip implant system — those utilizing a metal, rather than plastic or ceramic, liner — pose an unreasonable risk to patients of metallosis and related injury.

Ronald Salinas filed his lawsuit in Sacramento County (Calif.) Superior Court Nov. 27. Smith & Nephew removed the action to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California Dec. 27, asserting complete diversity of parties.

Salinas says he underwent surgery on Sept. 8, 2010, in which a Smith & Nephew R3 system …