They can then end up with a shorter leg, and some are forced to have arthrodesis - meaning they require a straight leg put in place

Martin Tweedie, solicitor with Lees and Partners

Nearly 1,500 of the Accord (Johnson Elloy) Total Knee Replacement Systems were distributed to 36 orthopaedic centres around the UK between 1982 to 1996.

Watchdog warning

Last March the Medical Devices Agency, a Government watchdog, warned hospitals not to implant the knees because of their unsatisfactory performance.

Mr Tweedie said his clients had been left in severe pain when their knee replacements failed.

Problems include the loosening of cemented parts in the knee, dislocation and a loss of bone stock from the knee.

He claimed one person even faces an amputation as a result of removing the metal and plastic knee replacement.

"If you remove an artificial knee from someone's leg, that person loses bone stock.

"They can then end up with a shorter leg, and some are forced to have arthrodesis - meaning they require a straight leg put in place.

"This has obvious implications towards their gait and their spine," he said.

A study in 1999 found the implant only has a 58% survival rate after a decade.