Despite another worldwide hip implant recall New Zealand health authorities say there are no concerns about the overall safety of the devices.
UK company Smith and Nephew is recalling its R3 implant metal socket liner, which is says is "not performing as well as desired".
A small number of patients experienced problems including infections, fractures and dislocations.
However, there was no evidence of "metallosis", or the build-up of metallic debris in the body, a company spokesman told Reuters.
The company says patients already with the implant will not necessarily need their implants replaced but will need to be monitored more closely.
The Ministry of Health says 139 of the implants have been supplied to New Zealand.
Medsafe says Smith and Nephew are contacting surgeons to ask them to contact affected patients, and advise them of the need for greater monitoring.
Medsafe's Derek Fitzgerald says the recall does not mean patients with the implant will necessarily require revision surgery.
"However, as a precaution patients with this implant will be followed up more frequently by their doctor.
Earlier this year, 525 ASR and 41 Mitch metal-on-metal implants were recalled in New Zealand, as part of worldwide recalls.
There have been 70,889 hip implants carried out in New Zealand in the past 11 years - 6225 of them metal-on-metal implants.
The recalls of metal-on-metal hip implants represent less than 1 per cent of the hip replacements in the past 11 years.
A Ministry of Health spokesman told NZ Newswire there was no concern for the overall safety of metal-on-metal hip implants.
Medical companies were continually testing and improving their products, but once they were put into more widespread use in a variety of people, problems could arise, he said.
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