British Orthopaedic Association statement on NexGen implant recall

The British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) recognises the concern of patients following reports of a small number of NexGen knee implant configurations with an increased risk of early failure and tibial loosening. Our priority is patient welfare, and we understand how distressing uncertainty about an implant can be.

Most hip and knee implants perform well, with over 95% lasting beyond ten years. Failures within this timeframe require careful investigation, combining retrieval analysis with clinical, surgical, radiographic and biochemical information.

Over the past decade, improvements in the National Joint Registry (NJR) have enhanced its ability to record multiple variants within implant brands, enabling earlier detection of problems and timely action when a specific combination shows higher failure rates.

The BOA supports establishing a multidisciplinary Implant Failure Analysis Group, bringing together surgeons, patients, registries, national societies and industry, with independent funding, to ensure robust investigation and patient safety.