More than 10,000 NHS patients have been given faulty prosthetic knees, it was revealed last night.
The National Joint Registry said 350 patients needed a second operation over a decade for “aseptic loosening.”
The Nexgen from the American company Zimmer Biomet was withdrawn from the market in October.
The National Joint Registry said 350 patients needed a second operation over a decade for “aseptic loosening.”
The implant has failed in up to 7 percent of patients over the past decade — twice the failure rate accepted by the registry that oversees hip and knee surgery.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has announced it will ban the implant, which has been in use since 2003.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA’s chief safety officer, told the Daily Telegraph: “We are actively engaging with relevant stakeholders and reviewing all available evidence from various sources regarding concerns about the performance of the NexGen knee implant.”
A spokesperson for Zimmer Biomet said: “We are working closely with regulators on this voluntary recall and we will be sending information to surgeons next week to update them on the details of this recall.
‘In that time, information will also be available on our website.’
More than 100,000 patients undergo hip and knee replacements each year in the NHS; Both operations cost around £5,000 each.
The majority of patients either suffer from severe arthritis or have broken joints and struggle to complete basic daily tasks.
Replacement parts are typically made of plastic, metal or ceramic and usually last at least 15 years.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
