ABG1 ARTIFICIAL HIP JOINT
Six hospitals in the UK have advised the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of a higher than expected level of failure of a component in the Pfizer ABG1 artificial hip joint. The MHRA has issued a safety warning for over 3,000 patients who received replacement hip joints which were manufactured and supplied by Pfizer between 1990 and 2000.
The problem involves rapid wear on the cup shaped artificial articulating surface of the joint which is made of high density polyethylene resulting in bone damage and on occasions the polyethylene cup has dislocated and moved from the artificial joint into the pelvis. Cup migration may require major reconstructive surgery and where there is extensive bone damage revision surgery is more difficult.
Satisfactory results for artificial hip joints require 90% of them to remain in serviceable condition for a period of ten years however upon review and audit the ABG1 cup did not achieve that figure. The MHRA recommends that all patients implanted with an ABG1 artificial hip joint are examined by way of clinical and radiological review and thereafter all patients should be reviewed regularly.
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