The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
This site provides detailed information about having total hip replacement revision surgery.
Like total joint knee replacement surgery, total hip joint replacement ranks as one of the most successful surgeries in medicine. However, like anything mechanical, your new joint may need repair after time due to wear and tear.
In addition, weight gain or participation in high-impact activities can potentially result in the joint no longer functioning properly. If this happens, hip revision surgery to repair it may be recommended.
Repair to a previous hip joint replacement may require one of several types of surgery. You may need parts of the implanted hip joint (prosthesis) repaired or replaced, or you may need the entire implant replaced. Sometimes repairing or rebuilding the bone around the joint may also be needed. Your doctor will discuss the details of your particular revision with you.
When is Hip Revision Surgery Needed?
You may need hip revision surgery if:
- Parts of your implant have broken off and are irritating the surrounding tissue and bone. When this happens your immune system will attack this irritant and even your own healthy bone. This condition is called osteolysis.
- Just as with a total knee replacement, younger patients run the risk of outliving their hip replacement and the aging artificial joint may require repair.
- Infection may have occurred after the original surgery. Your surgeon will either treat the infection by replacing some of the parts of the joint or remove and replace it completely, depending on how severe the infection becomes.
- Your hip joint becomes dislocated because of trauma or other reasons that cause the ball-and-socket to now function properly. Revision surgery will help realign the artificial joint.
- You have fallen, which resulted in a hip fracture. If this is the case, you and your surgeon will discuss whether a revision is needed.
Hip Revision Surgery
Your hip revision surgery will be done under anesthesia. You may be given general anesthesia, where you are completely asleep for the procedure or the area of the surgery may be numbed (called nerve block anesthesia) and you will be awake, but you will not feel anything. You and your team will determine the type of anesthesia that is best for your individual condition.
You can expect the surgery to take several hours. Your surgeon will follow the line of the original surgery to minimize scarring. During the procedure, your original implant will be inspected and as much of your bone preserved as possible. If there has been much bone damage or loss, other implant components will be added to help regain stability.
Your revision implant will be constructed, surrounding tissues repaired and your surgeon with ensure the hip joint is functioning before you are moved to recovery.
What to Expect From Hip Revision Surgery
Repair to a previous hip joint replacement may require one of several types of surgery. You may need parts of the implanted hip joint (prosthesis) repaired or replaced, or you may need the entire implant replaced. Sometimes repairing or rebuilding the bone around the joint may also be needed. Your doctor will discuss the details of your particular revision with you.
When is Hip Revision Surgery Needed?
You may need hip revision surgery if:
- Parts of your implant have broken off and are irritating the surrounding tissue and bone. When this happens your immune system will attack this irritant and even your own healthy bone. This condition is called osteolysis.
- Just as with a total knee replacement, younger patients run the risk of outliving their hip replacement and the aging artificial joint may require repair.
- Infection may have occurred after the original surgery. Your surgeon will either treat the infection by replacing some of the parts of the joint or remove and replace it completely, depending on how severe the infection becomes.
- Your hip joint becomes dislocated because of trauma or other reasons that cause the ball-and-socket to now function properly. Revision surgery will help realign the artificial joint.
- You have fallen, which resulted in a hip fracture. If this is the case, you and your surgeon will discuss whether a revision is needed.
Hip Revision Surgery
Your hip revision surgery will be done under anesthesia. You may be given general anesthesia, where you are completely asleep for the procedure or the area of the surgery may be numbed (called nerve block anesthesia) and you will be awake, but you will not feel anything. You and your team will determine the type of anesthesia that is best for your individual condition.
You can expect the surgery to take several hours. Your surgeon will follow the line of the original surgery to minimize scarring. During the procedure, your original implant will be inspected and as much of your bone preserved as possible. If there has been much bone damage or loss, other implant components will be added to help regain stability.
Your revision implant will be constructed, surrounding tissues repaired and your surgeon with ensure the hip joint is functioning before you are moved to recovery.
If you and your doctor agree that a hip revision is the best course of action, you’ll be evaluated to ensure you are healthy enough for the surgery. Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs or a CT scan may be ordered. You may also have some blood work done to determine if you have any infection or are having a reaction to the metal components of the hip replacement joint.
Preparing for Hip Revision Surgery
If you and your doctor agree that a hip revision is the best course of action, you’ll be evaluated to ensure you are healthy enough for the surgery. Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs or a CT scan may be ordered. You may also have some blood work done to determine if you have any infection or are having a reaction to the metal components of the hip replacement joint.
After surgery, you’ll most likely be in the hospital for a few days. Your pain will be managed through medication and you’ll also be given exercises to strengthen your leg and restore function. The goal is to get you up and walking as soon as possible so you can get back to your daily activities. Physical therapy is a very important part of your recovery process.
After Discharge
Plan to have help at home for completing daily tasks as you will still have limited mobility while you’re recovering. Your orthopedics team will help you be prepared for your homecoming and provide information for a successful recovery. If needed, you may also be referred to a rehabilitation center to ensure you are regaining your strength prior to returning home.
After Hip Revision Surgery
After surgery, you’ll most likely be in the hospital for a few days. Your pain will be managed through medication and you’ll also be given exercises to strengthen your leg and restore function. The goal is to get you up and walking as soon as possible so you can get back to your daily activities. Physical therapy is a very important part of your recovery process.
After Discharge
Plan to have help at home for completing daily tasks as you will still have limited mobility while you’re recovering. Your orthopedics team will help you be prepared for your homecoming and provide information for a successful recovery. If needed, you may also be referred to a rehabilitation center to ensure you are regaining your strength prior to returning home.
You probably have a lot of questions about hip revision surgery. Be sure to write them down and bring with you to your consultation to ensure you understand all your options and your surgery. Here are some questions to get you started:
- Why is hip revision surgery needed?
- Would losing weight or physical therapy alone help my condition?
- What is the success rate of this type of surgery?
- After surgery will my mobility be limited? For how long?
- Will I be out of pain once I’m fully recovered?
- What will my recovering time be?
- What activities can I do, and which activities should I avoid?
Questions to Ask Your Physician About Hip Revision Surgery
You probably have a lot of questions about hip revision surgery. Be sure to write them down and bring with you to your consultation to ensure you understand all your options and your surgery. Here are some questions to get you started:
- Why is hip revision surgery needed?
- Would losing weight or physical therapy alone help my condition?
- What is the success rate of this type of surgery?
- After surgery will my mobility be limited? For how long?
- Will I be out of pain once I’m fully recovered?
- What will my recovering time be?
- What activities can I do, and which activities should I avoid?
Resources
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
This site provides detailed information about having total hip replacement revision surgery.
