Metal hip replacements could cause tumours, doctors warn

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Metal hip replacements could cause tumours, doctors warn

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-could-cause-tumours-doctors-warn.html_

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By Heidi Blake

 

 

Metal hip replacements could cause an increased risk of tumours and tissue

damage to patients, doctors have warned.

 

 

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.

 

 

Young women are thought to be particularly vulnerable to the damage caused

by the metal debris, produced by friction between the two plates at the

hip joint.

 

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.â€