Increased risk of wear and corrosion identified with certain cobalt chrome modular neck hip replacements

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has concluded that certain cobalt-chrome modular neck hip replacements carry an increased risk of wear and corrosion. While most patients remain unaffected, a small number may experience complications. The affected devices were available in the UK between 2007 and 2019, and approximately 750 patients are estimated to still have them implanted. These devices are no longer supplied in the UK.

NHS trusts and hospitals have been instructed to identify patients with these implants and invite them for a clinical review. The purpose is to inform patients of potential risks and assess whether ongoing monitoring is necessary based on individual symptoms or clinical findings. Patients will be contacted by their surgeon or implanting hospital; no proactive action is required from patients themselves.

The MHRA’s review, published in 2025, initially focused on Profemur cobalt-chrome modular neck hip replacements and found elevated risks of wear, corrosion, and device fracture. A subsequent review of all cobalt-chrome dual taper modular neck systems identified variable revision surgery rates linked to metal wear. Increased wear and corrosion risks were associated with additional interfaces in these designs, which may cause tissue reactions and necessitate revision surgery.

The MHRA has not found evidence of a higher-than-expected rate of device fracture among the reviewed systems. All patients with potentially affected devices are advised to attend follow-up appointments. Anyone experiencing new or unexpected symptoms such as pain, stiffness, or instability should contact their implanting surgeon or hospital immediately and report the issue to the MHRA via the Yellow Card scheme.