Department of Health and Human Services chief health officer Dr Craig White.

SEVERAL Tasmanians could have received dodgy hip replacement parts that are subject to a national recall.

About 600 Australians may be affected by the recall of the MITCH TRH modular head or resurfacing femoral head and the MITCH TRH acetabular cup.

The components are used in different combinations for hip resurfacing or total hip replacements.

State and federal government departments have been unable to say how many Tasmanians have been affected by the recall.

American company Stryker, responsible for the hip parts, told the Mercury about 14 of the hip components were sold in Tasmania.

Department of Health and Human Services chief health officer Dr Craig White said the Royal Hobart Hospital and the Launceston General Hospital were listed on the product alert for the hip components.

“Two patients received the hips in 2007 at the LGH and these patients are being followed up by their orthopaedic surgeon so that their condition can be effectively monitored,” Dr White said.

“The RHH is currently undertaking an audit … to determine the use of this product and any patients affected will be contacted.”

Stryker spokeswoman Jeanine Guilfoyle said 14 MITCH TRH Modular Head were implants sold in Tasmania in 2007 but she did say: “The number of implantations is typically less than sales.”

Dr White said patients who are aware of having a MITCH TRH modular head as one of the components of their hip replacement, should contact their implanting surgeon to arrange the next scheduled review appointment, if they do not already have an appointment scheduled.