Why cobalt-chromium implants must be avoided.

Cases of poisoning associated with failed cobalt-chromium replacement surgery have brought a previously unacknowledged health risk to light.

It’s time to acknowledge the risks of cobalt-chromium implants.

A recent article in the Telegraph tells the story of a woman who was ‘poisoned and left in agony’ after her replacement hip failed. She had received a cobalt chromium modular neck implant in 2014.

Around 5,000 people in Britain have the same modular neck implant, which were used in NHS operations between 2009 and 2017. Failure of these implants can cause cobalt poisoning, leading to serious symptoms including damage to the kidneys, heart, nerves, hearing, vision and memory.

Cobalt chromium implants have not been recommended for use on the NHS since 2017, yet they have not been banned. An estimated 100,000 people worldwide have received these modular neck implants and furthermore, cobalt is still commonly used in hip replacement surgery.

Exploring safer implant options

Professor Alister Hart contributed to the Telegraph article, advising surgeons to avoid cobalt chromium wherever possible as it is “vulnerable to corrosion when paired next to itself or titanium” and “creates a battery with the body’s fluid”.

He continued: “The sad fact is that 99 per cent of patients with corroding implants could have avoided problems, because there are several alternatives to cobalt-chromium.”

Professor Hart has in fact been recommending against cobalt chromium hip implants since 2012.

Educating patients about the risk

As well as recognising the potential risk of these metals within hip implants, it is important to highlight the possiblity of poisoning to people who received them - especially as not everyone experiences noticeable symptoms.

The Telegraph article highlighted that muliple groups are calling for hip surgery patients who received these implants to be contacted and advised of the potential risk.