DePuy 'Hylamer' Polyethylene Hips
Thank you to everyone involved in my case. I never dreamed of such an outcome and you have made such a long and difficult case seem easy and bearable.
Nigel, Derbyshire
It has been confirmed that DePuy International Limited supplied 2,021 of these components in England and Scotland between March 1990 and August 1999. Surgeons in conjunction with the MDA ask that those who have had replacement operations with the Hylamer Polyethylene component seek medical assistance from their doctor in order to detect any signs of premature wearing. Sheila Adam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the MDA said: "We are aware that some patients who have received these joints have experienced a higher than expected rate of wear. In some cases this has led to patients having further hip or shoulder replacements surgery earlier than was originally expected. Because of this we have decided that all patients with these implants should be reviewed by doctors."
M.R Norton, R. Yarlagadda and G. H. Anderson in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery estimate that the DePuy Hylamer Hips have experienced a 67.6 per cent failure rate at five years.
The failure of these components is due to the manufacturing process. The components have been sterilised by gamma radiation in air, which can make some implants more vulnerable to oxidation than standard polyethylene components. Mike Thompson, Vice President of Marketing with DePuy International Limited said: "The oxidation process appears to alter the chemical and mechanical properties of the material and may reduce its resistance to wear, particularly if the product was implanted with an extended life."
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