New Research Puts Spotlight On Failure Rates

Public liability lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have called for the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to act quickly to take steps after new research claimed metal-on-metal hip implants should not be in use.

The study by researchers at the University of Bristol, published in The Lancet, revealed that the specific types of hip replacement have significantly higher failure rate than other types, while risks were higher for women and younger people.

Concerns were also raised with larger metal-on-metal implants, with ceramic implants performing better with a larger head size.

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist Defective Products team act for an increasing number of people affected by problems related to all metal-on-metal hip implants, particularly the De Puy ASR/ASR XL which was subject to a recall around two years ago.

Gary Walker, a solicitor with a great deal of experience in product liability claims, said: “This new analysis will be a huge concern to all patients fitted with metal-on-metal implants, not just those flagged in the study as suffering particular problems.

“So many of our clients have seen their lives turned upside down as a result of being fitted with such implants, with some people struggling to carry out basic tasks and look after their families due to the problems.

“The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (the MHRA) has already launched an investigation into the safety of these products and we urge them to take into consideration the report’s recommendation that metal-on-metal implants should not be in use

“There are serious concerns over the long-term health consequences of these hip implants and it is vital that regulatory bodies provide the very best support to ensure that no one else suffers in the same manner again.”