[Survey on the use and behaviour of metal-metal hip replacements in Spain]

Following medical device alerts published in different countries of problems with metal-on-metal total hip replacements, the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) in collaboration with the Spanish Hip Society Surgery designed a national survey to gather information on the use and behaviour of these hip implants.

The survey consisted of a questionnaire sent by e-mail to 283 clinical centre recipients of metal-on-metal hips to be filled in by surgeons with expertise in the field.

A total of 257 questionnaires were completed. The response rate of the clinical centres was 36.7%. A total of 97.7% of the responses reported that clinical and radiological follow-ups are carried out, and 79.6% undertook metal ion analyses (chromium and cobalt). A large majority (83.6%) of the responders who had who used surface implants, and 70% of those with large-head implants reported peri-operative complications. The most common complication was pain (25% with surface implants and 30.8% with large-head implants). Currently 80.8% of those responding were considering abandoning implanting of these hip replacements.

Despite the many limitations to this study, the survey has allowed us to obtain in a quick first view of the implant scenario of Metal on Metal hip implants in Spain, and to determine the type of patient implanted, the time of implantation, and the experience/expertise of the surgeons, and the type of follow-up carried out.