UK company recalls knee implants

Version 0 of 1.

Knee implants are being recalled by a British firm after they were found to contain too much iron.

Smith & Nephew said around 275 patients had been fitted with the implants from the TC-PLUS, VKS and RT-PLUS ranges.

The company is trying to trace another 300 implants which have been supplied to customers - mostly in Europe.

It said the iron content was not expected to cause any health problems, and the recall was purely a precautionary measure.

In a statement the company said the higher iron content was due to a production error at the supplier's factory.

What we are advising patients to do, if they know they have had one of these implants, is to speak to their surgeon Smith & Nephew

It stressed that many other orthopaedic implants contain iron in much greater percentages.

"There have been no reports to date of any patient problems resulting from the use of these implants," it added.

"Smith & Nephew is carrying out laboratory testing to determine if the implants' material properties or durability have been affected."

A spokeswoman for the firm said the only concern about the implants was that they might not last as long.

"What we are advising patients to do, if they know they have had one of these implants, is to speak to their surgeon."

But, she added, removing the implant may cause more distress and worry than leaving it in.

Around 20% of the implants already used have been put into patients in the UK.

The company recalled 185 implants in August after a packaging error.