Artificial joints last for 10 to 15 years, and you should exercise as much as possible to keep the muscles around them strong.

The guidance was issued by a health watchdog after research found failure rates as high as 43 per cent among some of the artificial joints.

It added that it wanted to concentrate on artificial joints and wound management.

Brushes can be used to stabilize colloids, reduce friction between surfaces, and to provide lubrication in artificial joints.

People with artificial joints are more at risk than the general population but have slightly different symptoms, are infected with different organisms and require different treatment.