Revision Hip surgery

Eventually all joint replacements will wear loose and become painful. In loosening, the surrounding bone becomes eroded. This leaves behind less 'bone stock' in which to re-implant a new hip.

Revision hip surgery is bigger surgery than the 1st time round. Effectively double the surgery takes place; removal of the old and re-implantation of the new.

Technology has moved on such that both stems and cups have been designed to provide fixation in the remaining bone stock, maximising the success of the surgery.

There is a significant element of skill, training and experience required for revision hip surgery. Ensuring the best possible results.

The complication rate is higher in revision hip surgery than in primary surgery. There is a greater infection and dislocation rate, still low, but higher than 1st time round.

The most common revision operation is the cup-revision, modern stems are lasting longer then the cups. A Cup revision is, as one might hope, a much smaller operation than revision of both components.

It is sometimes necessary, in complex cases to restrict weight bearing to partial weight bearing after revision surgery if the bone was very delicate at the time of operation. This requires use of a frame or crutches, and is generally only necessary for 6 weeks. More commonly, however you should be fine fully weight bearing after your revision hip replacement.