<2>Scarlett McNally: Bone cement—relying on fewer suppliers may be unstable, but standardisation is beneficial overall
<3>The Orthopaedic Crisis: A Shortage of Bone Cement
<4>As an orthopaedic surgeon, I have always been aware of the importance of bone cement in our field. Recently, a sudden shortage of this essential material has left us stunned and scrambling to find solutions. The impact of this shortage cannot be overstated, particularly given the large number of patients who rely on bone cement for their operations.
<5>According to recent statistics, orthopaedics is the surgical specialty with the largest waiting list in the UK. With over 117,000 hip replacements performed each year in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, 60% of these operations require bone cement. Similarly, around 90% of the 134,000 knee replacements and half of the 77,000 operations for hip fractures also rely on this material.
<6>The shortage of bone cement is particularly concerning, as it risks affecting around 4,600 patients a week. This is a significant number, and it highlights the importance of standardising our supply chain to prevent such shortages in the future.
<7>So, what led to this