Thousands may need complex surgery after spinal implant linked to bone loss
Woman who wrongly had part of spine removed among hundreds of NHS surgical blunders
Thousands of people across the UK could face complex surgery to remove the M6-C artificial disc, a spinal implant now linked to significant bone loss.
The device, designed to replace damaged neck discs, has been globally withdrawn from sale by its manufacturer, Orthofix, effective February 2025, prompting an urgent recall for patient X-rays.
The implant is associated with osteolysis, a progressive condition destroying bone tissue, with one patient, Sophia Harrison, facing “daunting” operations after developing a serious infection.
Despite Australian regulators issuing a hazard alert in 2020, UK patients were not informed until January 2026 by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which identified a delay in the manufacturer’s communication of risks.
A law firm is exploring legal claims against Orthofix, representing numerous affected individuals and advising all patients with the implant to undergo annual monitoring due to the potential for severe complications.
