Mrs Brodricks’s Story – “The thought of facing surgery again is terrifying”

Susan Brodrick is one of several patients represented by Fletchers Solicitors in legal action against Zimmer Biomet, the manufacturer of the NexGen knee implant. The claims allege that the company was aware of issues with the device years before it was withdrawn from the UK market.

Like many others, Mrs Brodrick has endured worsening pain and now faces the prospect of further surgery after being told her implant is loosening.

Mrs Brodrick, from Southampton, had a NexGen knee replacement fitted in December 2017 after years of pain from arthritis.

Initially, she tried to stay positive, but over time she began to experience increasing pain and stiffness in her left knee. “I just assumed it was part of the recovery,” she said. “I’d read that no knee replacement is ever perfect, and I didn’t want to make a fuss.”

As her discomfort worsened, she sought help from a chiropractor, who recommended a local hydrotherapy group for people with arthritis. But despite her best efforts, the pain never went away.

In 2024, Mrs Brodrick received a letter about the recall of the NexGen knee implant and was invited for a review at Spire Hospital as an NHS patient. Although she was told at the time that the implant appeared fine, further investigations in 2025 revealed that it was loosening, and she has since been told she will need another operation.

“The thought of going through surgery again is terrifying,” she said. “The first time was hard enough, but the second time around you know what’s coming — and that makes it worse. I get tired easily, I can’t hold my younger grandchildren for long, and I struggle to play with the older ones. It’s affected me in every way.”

Mrs Brodrick said she was “shocked and upset” to learn that the manufacturer may have known about problems with the implant long before it was withdrawn.

“I trusted that what was going into my body was safe. To find out that there were concerns years ago is devastating. I just want answers — and I want other people to know what’s happened so they can get help if they need it.”

She added: “I’m lucky to have my husband to support me, but the pain is getting worse and I do worry about the future. I know I’ll need ongoing medical help, and possibly surgery again. It’s not how I thought things would be at this stage of my life.”