Metal hip replacements could cause tumours, doctors warn

Metal hip replacements could cause tumours, doctors warn
Metal hip replacements could cause an increased risk of tumours and tissue damage to patients, doctors have warned.

By Heidi Blake
Published: 7:30AM BST 19 Apr 2010
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The 40,000 people with metal hips are to have their implants reviewed by the Medicines and Health care Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) over fears that debris from the metal is causing non-cancerous tumours, severe swelling and sinew damage.

An unknown number will have their metal hips taken out and replaced following the review.


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Metal hips are especially popular among younger patients because they last longer than the alternatives. Around eight per cent of hip replacement patients are under 55.

Legal claims against DePuy, one of the manufacturers of the implants, are being investigated in the United States.

The company insists that the implants are safe, despite issuing a safety notice last month saying its products should not be fitted “in females of childbearing age” and disclosing there was a “higher than expected” rate of removals.

DePuy last week announced plans to phase out the products mentioned in the safety notice, but emphasised that the move did not constitute a recall. “Data about safety were not the basis for this decision,” it said.

Patients considered at risk will be tested for high levels of metal compounds in the blood, and a small number will have their metal hips replaced.

The MHRA said at the weekend: “Any patients who are affected by these recommendations will be contacted by their surgeon.”