Thousands of Canadians underwent metal hip resurfacing despite Health Canada warnings

Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing, a bone-preserving alternative to total replacement, remains in limited use across Canada despite a 2012 Health Canada notice highlighting pain, loosening and metal ion toxicity, especially for women. Data from the Canadian Institute for Health one outlet's show more than 5,000 such surgeries have been performed, with annual numbers staying above 400 until 2019 and continuing into 2025-26.

Patients including Tony Kinney, who lost his home after the implant failed, and Calgary instructor Doug Smerek describe ongoing pain, metal poisoning symptoms and multiple revision surgeries, leading them to join a class-action suit targeting Wright Medical Technology and its buyer MicroPort Scientific Corporation. Orthopedic experts are divided, with some calling the procedure obsolete and others defending its use for select patients with strong bone stock. Provincial health systems report a patchwork of policies, and Health Canada says it can act on emerging evidence but has not issued new guidance since the original warning.