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Hip replacements typically wear outvery slowly, but the problem does progress over the years. Ten years after a hip replacement, there is a 90% chance the implant will be functioning well. In general, the lifespan of the implant is expected to be 15 to 20 years.
Patients who wear out their prosthesis will require revision hip replacement surgery. Revision hip replacements may also be performed to manage complications such asinfection of a hip replacement,hip replacement dislocation, or fractures of the bone around the hip replacement.
As more people are choosing to have a hip replacement, especially at younger ages, the number of revision hip replacements is growing quickly.
Why Hip Replacements Wear Out
Hip replacements can wear out for a variety of reasons. The most common cause of a hip replacement wearing out is called aseptic loosening.Aseptic loosening occurs when the hip implants become loose within the bone. A loose hip implant tends to be painful and usually requires revision hip replacement.
Other causes of a hip replacement wearing out include infection, breaking of the prosthesis, breaking of the bone around the prosthesis, and other complications.Depending on the cause of the implant failing, treatment other than revision hip replacement may be needed.
Why Revisions Are Complex
Revision hip replacements are more complicated surgeries, and outcomes may not be as good as after the first hip replacement.Challenges during surgery include assessing the quality of the existing bone and adequately securing the revision hip replacements into position. Furthermore, removing the old hip replacement can necessitate more extensive surgery.
Another problem with revision hip replacement is that undergoing the surgery itself can be more complicated. Patients tend to be older, and less tolerant of long surgical procedures. The procedure is technically more difficult than primary hip replacements, and the effects on the patient are more significant. Longer surgeries can typically mean longer time under anesthesia and more blood loss.
Because of this, revision hip replacement must be carefully considered and planned. Involvement of general medical doctors, anesthesiologists, and the orthopedic surgeon are all important.
When to Have Revision Surgery
We cannot underscore how complex revision hip replacement decision making can be. Not allproblems with hip replacementsare solved with revision surgery. Each patient must be considered on an individual basis—generalizations cannot be made in the case of revision hip replacement surgery.
If you have a hip replacement and think you may need revision surgery, you should discuss your options with an orthopedic surgeon.
A Word From Verywell
Undergoing a revision hip replacement surgery is a major undertaking. Because of the previous surgery, revision joint replacement is almost always a more difficult surgical procedure and has a higher risk of complications. Successful outcomes may be less.
Revision joint replacement surgeries can be more difficult due to scar tissue, difficulty extracting implants, and the need for specialty implants used during the revision surgery. That said, when the hip replacement stops functioning normally, revision surgery is likely to be necessary to try and restore normal function to the joint.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Varacallo M, Luo TD, Johanson NA.Total hip arthroplasty (THA) techniques. StatPearls.Nho SJ, Kymes SM, Callaghan JJ, Felson DT.The burden of hip osteoarthritis in the United States: epidemiologic and economic considerations.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013;21 Suppl 1:S1-6. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-07-S1Cleveland Clinic.Hip revision.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Revision total hip replacement.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Varacallo M, Luo TD, Johanson NA.Total hip arthroplasty (THA) techniques. StatPearls.Nho SJ, Kymes SM, Callaghan JJ, Felson DT.The burden of hip osteoarthritis in the United States: epidemiologic and economic considerations.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013;21 Suppl 1:S1-6. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-07-S1Cleveland Clinic.Hip revision.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Revision total hip replacement.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Varacallo M, Luo TD, Johanson NA.Total hip arthroplasty (THA) techniques. StatPearls.Nho SJ, Kymes SM, Callaghan JJ, Felson DT.The burden of hip osteoarthritis in the United States: epidemiologic and economic considerations.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013;21 Suppl 1:S1-6. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-07-S1Cleveland Clinic.Hip revision.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Revision total hip replacement.
Varacallo M, Luo TD, Johanson NA.Total hip arthroplasty (THA) techniques. StatPearls.
Nho SJ, Kymes SM, Callaghan JJ, Felson DT.The burden of hip osteoarthritis in the United States: epidemiologic and economic considerations.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013;21 Suppl 1:S1-6. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-07-S1
Cleveland Clinic.Hip revision.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Revision total hip replacement.
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