Faulty hip implants: ‘60% face surgery’

UP to six-in-10 patients fitted with faulty hip implants will face replacement surgery in the future, according to a legal firm working on behalf of some of those affected.

Legal health specialists Malcolmson Law believe as many as 1,700 of the 3,500 patients affected by the worldwide recall in August by DePuy Orthopaedics of two hip replacement implant products will require further treatment.

Managing partner Raymond Bradley said this is a far higher figure than estimated by the Health Service Executive (HSE), which said a ‘minority’ of patients will require further surgery.