IF THE the joint in your pelvis has left the building, a range of new guidelines from Britain may well have you shouting hip-hooray, or at least feeling better about your long-term prognosis.
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has issued new precautionary guidelines for healthcare professionals managing patients who have been implanted with metal-on-metal hip replacements.
The new guidelines, which include additional recommendations regarding patient monitoring, were designed to ensure longer term follow-up periods for patients with the implants.
The agency's clinical director of medical devices, Dr Neil McGuire, said although the majority of people who had undergone the procedure had well-functioning hips, some developed soft tissue problems as a result of the procedure.
"The clinical advice we have received indicates patients will have the best outcomes if these problems are detected early, monitored and treated if necessary," he said.
Dr McGuire urged anyone with questions about their hip replacement to speak with their GP or surgeon.
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