Error in hip implant manufacturing causes trouble for DePuy

Metal-on-metal implants with manufacturing issues leave thousands seeking compensation from DePuy, reported The Telegraph

Metal-on-metal implants are the least common used for hip replacement according to Arthritis Research UK, with the most popular being metal-on-plastic.

DePuy manufactures both metal-on-plastic and metal-on-metal hip implants, however, the company admitted “an error in the measuring techniques” when making metal-on-metal implants at its factory in Yorkshire, The Telegraph reported.

The news site stated that it had seen documents to suggest that a potentially serious manufacturing problem may have compounded the issue and that the problems with production have been discussed for several years.

Stephen Cannon, honorary consultant at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and vice president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said to The Telegraph that manufacturing issues could lead to problems.

Cannon said: “If [parts of the implants] don’t match, whether it be metal against metal or metal on plastic, then the wear rate goes up.”

If the measurements were misjudged or inaccurate that could increase the risk of “high wear rate”, he added.

In papers submitted to the High Court, DePuy said the manufacturing issue arose because parts were measured when hot, so they were a different size when at room temperature: “One of the polishing machines heated the components so that they were expanded.”

The Telegraph reported that DePuy bosses are now under intense pressure from victims of the miss-measured implants to answer questions on how long the firm was aware of the problem, amid claims that potentially faulty components were sold for years.