Steel springs used in children's spinal surgeries made from metal known to corrode, Hiqa report finds

Steel springs implanted in children during spinal surgery were made from a metal known to corrode and were not evaluated due to gaps in hospital procedures, health regulator Hiqa has found.Children were not protected from the risk of harm at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) due to lack of adequate safeguards in many processes,the report, published on Tuesday, concluded.Inspectors wanted to find out how and why springs made from non-alloyed spring steel instead of medical grade stainless steel were used in three children’s surgeries.They interviewed a surgeon in CHI at Temple Street hospital, Professor Connor Green. They contacted manufacturing companies, a Dutch research team and various hospital staff.The HSE requires all medical devices to have a CE mark, so staff know it is suitable and it knows how they plan to use it.However lead inspector Seán Egan said Hiqa found “a lack of clear and adequate checking in relation to the order, procuring and use of the springs”.The consultant, nam...