Orthopedic

Treatments

Revision hip replacement surgery is for people who have had a total hip replacement in the past but are experiencing pain and/or instability in their artificial hip. This can result from wear and tear over the years, an infection, or an injury. While an initial total hip replacement can last 30 years or longer, the most common cause of problems is a loosening of the implant in the bone. The revision procedure is more complex than an initial hip replacement, and the success rate is not quite as high.

During revision of total hip replacement surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will repair the old implants or remove them from the hip socket and/or the top of the thigh bone and replace them with new ones. Removal is sometimes difficult and may involve cutting into the bone. If there is infection, it is possible that this will have to be treated after the implant is removed, followed by a later surgery to place the new implants. In some cases, bone grafts or wires may be required to rebuild damaged bone. The length of time required for revision of total hip replacement surgery depends on the complexity of the individual case but may be considerably longer than for the initial hip replacement operation.

While the success rate for total hip replacement surgery is about 10% lower than for an initial total hip replacement, most patients have excellent results, with pain eliminated and considerable mobility restored. Recovery and rehabilitation are much the same as for a primary hip replacement, involving several days in the hospital and several weeks of rehabilitation. Patients with a revision hip replacement are generally cautioned to be extremely careful for the first few months to avoid the possibility of a dislocation.