1st February 2012
Metal-on-Metal Implants - Addressing the Negative
Press
More information can be found here:
http://www.mcminncentre.co.uk/news-archive.html
We have been receiving phone calls following recent
press reports on failed metal-on-metal hip implants.
We understand these sensationalist stories may cause
anxiety among some patients. However, we would like
to reassure our patients that these reports mostly
concern failures with the DePuy ASR and the DePuy
ASR XL, not the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR).
Many press reports imply these failures relate to
all metal-on-metal hip resurfacings. A patient
featured in a recent Daily Mail article, like many
others, had a failed ASR. A critical point, omitted
from the print version of the Daily Mail, can be
found in the full on line version. As well as her
ASR, the patient had a BHR on her other hip. She
comments, "I've never had a minute's trouble from
the Birmingham hip – if only I'd had it on both
sides."
High failure rates with the ASR and ASR XL have been
widely documented. Both devices have now been
withdrawn from the market. Research indicates the
side effects, such as muscle damage, are specific to
the ASR and do not apply to the BHR which is a very
different device.
Earlier this week, the MHRA (Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) issued
another statement about metal-on-metal hips, in
which they say, "On the evidence currently available
the majority of patients implanted with
metal-on-metal hip replacements are at low risk of
developing any serious problems.”
In addition to the MHRA’s guidance, we wish to
emphasize that Mr McMinn’s results with the BHR show
a 97% survival in men and women of all ages at 14.5
years. Furthermore, excellent results with the BHR
have been documented in National Joint Registers
from around the world.
Sadly, these ASR failures come as no surprise. Mr
McMinn has been warning about the device since it
went to market in 2003. You can see Mr McMinn’s
argument against the ASR here
http://www.mcminncentre.co.uk/research-lectures-debate.html.
Furthermore, The McMinn Centre has put together
several resources which address patients’ concerns
and the differences between the ASR and BHR designs.
These resources are as follows:
• The McMinn Research Team's detailed response to
list of questions on metal-metal implants & metal
ions provided by hip resurfacing users here
• The McMinn Centre’s response to a Channel 4
documentary on metal-metal hip replacements here
http://www.mcminncentre.co.uk/metal-ions-questions-answers.html
• An interview with a patient who has now had his
McMinn metal-metal hip resurfacing for 20 years here
If you do have any concerns, please call:
The McMinn Centre on 0121 455 0411
