The Medical Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA) has this week revised its guidance to healthcare authorities and surgeons regarding a particular type of metal-on-metal hip. 

The MHRA had previously advised that all metal-on-metal hip patients should be annually followed-up and monitored for five years following the initial operation.  The advice now is that patients with large head metal hip replacement joints should be followed up annually for as long as the joint remains in the patient. Those patients with smaller replacement joints should continue to be monitored for a period of at least five years.

Doctors and surgeons dealing with metal hip replacement patients have been advised by the regulator to conduct blood tests - to detect unusually high levels of metal ions - and MRI or ultrasound scans to help further detect adverse symptoms. Such symptoms can include the release of cobalt and chromium into the bloodstream from the joint and inflammation of tissue surrounding the joint.

This updated advice for patient management and monitoring follows growing concerns over the complications caused by metal-on-metal hips and the number of people affected, currently estimated at 65,000 in the UK alone.

For further details on metal-on-metal hip replacements and information on whether you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation against the manufacturer of your hip, click here or call Jacqui Sayer on 01376 529298.

Tags: Clinical negligence, Metal-on-metal hips, Personal injury