Errors in handling and manufacturing of orthopaedic implants: the tip of the iceberg of an unrecognized system problem?

Patient safety related to orthopaedic implants, particularly joint arthroplasty, is a major concern due to the increasing elderly population and the wide variety of available devices. The safe use of medical devices, such as orthopaedic implants, is regulated by institutions or governmental agencies in many countries. Nevertheless, adverse incidents associated with the implantation of orthopaedic devices in patients are reported periodically in the news media.