Call for ban on metal hip implants

EXPERTS are calling for metal-on-metal hip implants to be banned, after they found “unequivocal evidence” of high failure rates.

New data on more than 400,000 hip replacements found metal-on-metal implants needed revising more often than other types and that failure rates were higher in women.

It comes two weeks after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency issued new guidance, saying almost 50,000 UK patients would need annual checks.

Tiny metal ions made up of cobalt and chromium are thought to break off from the implants, with fears this causes muscle and bone damage.