Safe Patient Project targets defective hip and knee implants

Almost 10 percent of artificial joints fail, sometimes because of surgical mistakes or complications—and also because of product defects. Consumer Reports' Safe Patient Project found that all major hip and knee implant manufacturers have recalled a product or line of products for defects over the last decade. And if you need a defective hip or knee implant replaced, chances are you or your insurer will have to pay the cost, not the manufacturer.

"Medical-device makers should have the confidence to stand by their testing and marketing claims and offer warranties covering product defects," says Lisa McGiffert, director of the Safe Patient Project. "Patients and their insurance companies shouldn't have to foot the bill to replace defective hip and knee implants." She points out that revision surgeries cost more, result in longer hospital stays, and can often lead to additional surgeries. "Medical-device makers should be willing to provide a warranty that spells out how long they will stand by their products and a process for getting defective hip and knee implants replaced at no cost if the implant turns out to be defective," McGiffert says.

To bring that point home to orthopedic surgeons, the Safe Patient Project this week is conducting an outreach campaign during the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting, in New Orleans. The campaign includes an ad in the New Orleans edition of USA Today, a mobile billboard that will circle the Morial Convention Center where the event is held, and ads at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. 

Nearly 1.2 million hip and knee surgeries are done in the U.S. each year. And demand is expected to continue in the future. By 2030, an estimated 4 million of these procedures will take place annually. More than half of those patients are expected to be under 65 years old.

Read more about the Safe Patient Project's work on hip and knee replacement. And check our hospital Ratings on hip and knee surgery.

—Joel Keehn