NHS Highland is reassuring Far North patients who may have concerns about hip replacement operations that have been carried out at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
The recent adverse reports of poor outcomes for hip surgery relate specifically to poorly performing replacements.
NHS Highland orthopaedic surgeon Mr David Finlayson stressed this equipment has never been used by any of the surgeons at Raigmore.
“Patients who have had hip replacements at Raigmore will have had a DePuy plastic socket inserted,” he said.
“This socket has been used in Raigmore since 1989 and has a remarkably low failure rate. The English National Joint Registry shows that it has the lowest failure rate of any of the sockets available.”
Mr Finlayson said patients who have undergone hip replacement surgery at Raigmore do not need to have any special tests carried out and their hips will continue to be monitored in the usual way.
“There are, however, many patients in the Highlands who will have had their hip replacements done elsewhere,” he added.
“These patients should contact their operating surgeon to find out what kind of joint was inserted and whether plans have been made to arrange a follow-up appointment.”
Local GPs are to be briefed about the situation.
