Researchers are calling for more Australian breast surgeons to sign up to the national register that tracks breast implants, in the wake of the global French PIP implant scandal.

Latest figures reveal that 430 of an estimated 568 surgeons who carry out breast device surgeries in Australia have already signed up to the database, according to the Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR) annual report.

But it is “critical” that all doctors who perform such surgeries participate in the register to form a complete snapshot of the devices in Australia, says Dr Ingrid Hopper, head of the ABDR at Monash University, Melbourne.

“Data provided by all surgeons inserting and removing breast devices is necessary for the ABDR to monitor device safety and ascertain optimal surgical techniques,” Dr Hopper says.