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If severe pain, stiffness or swelling in your prosthetic hip is causing you pain and discomfort, hip revision surgery can improve your mobility again.
Book an appointment with one of our orthopaedic hip specialists today.
Hip revision surgery is an operation (known as arthroplasty) to renew a prosthetic hip joint. While modern hip replacements usually provide decades of pain-free function, the operation sometimes needs to be done again. This may be due to parts of the replacement becoming worn or loose. Other problems that can be treated through revision hip replacement surgery include the management of infection, fracture or instability of the joint.
We’re seeing more people who need hip replacements due to patients having more active lifestyles than previous generations.
Our hip consultants are in the top 1% for revision rates and so we rarely see our patients for revisions. But if you’re experiencing pain in your artificial hip joint, we can diagnose and treat it effectively - wherever you had your original hip replacement.
If you had a hip replacement between 10 to 20 years ago, you may need hip revision surgery depending on how much daily use the joint has seen. While there's no hard-and-fast rule for when you could have a hip revision, you may need an operation if you're experiencing hip pain, instability or joint swelling.
The artificial implants used in hip replacements are susceptible to wear and tear and sometimes need to be repaired or replaced. If you’re experiencing pain and discomfort, a revision of your hip replacement can help minimise pain and improve the function of your hip joint.
There are three main reasons why people need hip revision surgery: dislocation, mechanical failure and infection.
Your prosthetic hip is similar to a natural hip in that it has a ball and socket. The ball must remain in the socket for your hip to continue to function well. Whether the ball stays in the socket is all to do with the alignment and fit of the prosthesis and the forces generated by muscles surrounding the hip joint.
Trauma to the hip or certain hip positions can lead to a hip dislocation. For most people with a hip replacement, it’s rare for this to happen. The people most at risk of hip dislocation are elderly or debilitated patients or patients who had their first hip replacement after a fracture. If your hip repeatedly dislocates, you might need surgery. This is because, the more times your hip dislocates, the more likely it is to happen again. Hip revision surgery helps prevent new dislocations.
More active individuals and patients who had their initial hip replacement earlier on in their lives will find that the new hip joint wears down faster than for elderly patients. As you move, the different parts of your hip replacement will rub against one another. Over time this wears away the prosthetic. Continual, repetitive movements cause small pieces of the prosthesis to break off.
Your immune system will see these small pieces as foreign bodies, generating an immune response - a bit like an allergic reaction. This immune response can be so strong that it starts to destroy healthy bone tissue in the hip joint or can cause the components of the hip replacement joint to come loose. If this happens, you will usually need surgery to prevent bone loss. This is one of the most common reasons for hip revision surgery. You might also need a hip revision if you break the prosthesis in a fall or collision.
During surgery for this type of hip revision, the surgeon will remove the worn, loose or broken components and replace them with new implants. It’s not uncommon to use a bone graft (from a deceased donor) to rebuild the bone lost due to the original prosthetic failing.
The risk of infection after hip replacement surgery is higher during the first six weeks, but you can contract an infection at any time. Sometimes, infections in other parts of the body (for example, the mouth, gums, teeth, lungs or skin) can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream. If this happens, there’s a small chance the bacteria can spread to your hip, infecting your hip replacement.
If your consultant suspects you have an infected hip replacement, they’ll seek to pinpoint the bacteria causing the infection. This is usually done via a hip aspiration so that fluids can be sent off and analysed. If you have an infection, your surgeon will discuss with you the best way to move forward. Whether you need surgery or not depends on how severe your infection is, whether antibiotics are likely to be effective and your general health, among other things.
You might also need a hip revision operation if you have an allergic reaction, a broken bone around the hip joint, alignment issues or if your implant has come loose. If your hip isn't functioning properly, you'll usually feel pain and discomfort. If this is the case for you, book an appointment with one of our hip consultants for an examination. They can then advise on the most effective treatment approach and whether you could benefit from hip joint revision surgery.
Choosing a trusted provider such as HCA UK can reduce your likelihood of needing a revision. It’s well established that clinical results tend to be better when performed by higher volume hip surgeons (those who perform procedures more regularly), and at hospitals which undertake a large number of hip replacements per year.
Hip revision surgery is a major operation. Compared to the original hip replacement, the revision is a longer and more complicated surgery. Requiring considerable planning and state-of-the-art tools and implants, hip revision surgery should only be carried out by the most experienced hip surgeons. We have several leading consultants specialising in hip arthroplasty, so you can be sure of receiving exceptional care with HCA UK.
Your consultant will discuss your options with you. If they determine that you are not yet in need of a hip replacement revision, they may suggest pain relief, weight management or other lifestyle changes. However, hip revision surgery may be necessary if your implant is loose or broken or if you've developed an infection or allergy. Some of the benefits of hip revision surgery include:
If you've been experiencing pain and tenderness in your hip, it's a good idea to book a consultation with one of our specialists. We understand hip pain is frustrating, especially if you've previously had your hip replaced.
When you see one of our hip specialists, they'll work with you to discover why you might be experiencing pain or discomfort. They'll be able to advise on whether hip revision surgery is the most effective option.
Our team of hip surgeons are on hand to help you regain mobility and ease discomfort. Follow these steps to book an appointment:
A month before your operation, we’ll arrange for you to meet your consultant and the wider care team so you know what to expect. Your consultant will explain the procedure in detail beforehand and answer your questions. Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will discuss these with you. Some of the most common complications from hip revision surgery include:
Your consultant will only recommend the procedure if they judge that the benefits outweigh these risks in your case. Once you've been briefed on the potential complications, you'll be asked to sign a consent form to confirm that you want to proceed. If you’ve decided to proceed with the hip revision surgery, there are a few things you can do at home to make the recovery process easier. These include:
Your surgeon may recommend visiting a dentist before your surgery to get a thorough examination and confirm the absence of any infection.
Hip revision surgery is usually performed under general anaesthetic, but other anaesthetic techniques could be used. Your anaesthetist will discuss these with you. During your surgery, your consultant will remove some (or all) of your previous hip replacement, along with any damaged bone. They'll also remove any cement holding together your previous replacement.
They'll then replace the old, worn parts of your hip replacement with new implants. The type of implants your surgeon uses will be based on several factors. Your consultant will take into account your age, activity levels and your condition to recommend the most suitable prosthetic choice. Most hip revisions use metal-on-plastic but there are also ceramic, plastic and cement-based heads. Your consultant will be able to answer any questions you may have about this choice, so it's important to voice any concerns as early as possible.
If you require hip revision surgery due to an infection, your hip revision may require two separate surgeries. The first surgery removes the artificial joint. Once the joint has been successfully removed, the infection is treated with antibiotics. Once the infection is no longer present, your surgeon will fit the new hip joint.
You'll need to stay in hospital for a few days after your hip revision surgery. This is so that your care team can monitor your progress and make sure you’re comfortable after surgery. Once they’re satisfied that you’re healing as expected, they will discharge you from the hospital to continue your recovery at home.
Your surgeon will provide you with thorough care instructions to help your recovery go more quickly. Some of the things they’ll likely recommend include:
When you return home, you'll need to use crutches or a walker for several weeks. It's a good idea to get these sorted before your surgery. If you don't have them already, fixing handrails in your bathroom and stairs can make moving around at home much easier.
You might want to arrange for a friend or someone in your family to help with your usual routine, including getting in and out of the shower.
You'll need to be looked after in hospital for a few days after you've had a revision hip replacement. Our physiotherapy team will help you to stand and practice walking using crutches. They'll also give you exercises that will help build the strength back up in your hips and legs.
You should be able to go home after a few days, depending on your recovery. You'll need crutches, a walker or walking sticks to get around for a few weeks. You won't be able to drive either, so you'll need to arrange for someone to collect you from the hospital. Your consultant will let you know when you can return to work or regular exercise.
You'll see your consultant for a follow-up appointment after the operation. This is to remove any stitches or staples and discuss your progress. We'll let you know what to expect from your follow-up appointment before you're discharged from the hospital.
The hip revision recovery timeline varies from person to person. Generally speaking, most people need crutches for at least a few weeks but can put weight on their hip straight away after surgery. It's important to bear in mind that it takes longer to recover from hip revision surgery than the initial hip replacement. If your orthopaedic surgeon had to cut bone or reattach muscle to tendons, you might not be considered fully recovered for around 12 months.
To give your hip a chance to heal, you'll need to restrict movement for the first six weeks. Some things to avoid include:
You should also keep wearing your support stockings for up to six weeks.
There are several ways you can pay for your treatment from private medical insurance to self-funding. How much your private hip revision surgery will cost depends on the complexity of the operation you need. They generally cost more than the initial hip replacement.
Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgery
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We can help you make an appointment with one of our experienced hip specialists and can also make imaging and outpatient physiotherapy appointments for you if you need them.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.