Revision Total Hip Replacement
This webpage will give you information
about a revision total hip replacement. If you have any
questions, you should ask your GP or other relevant health
professional.
What is a revision total hip replacement?
A revision total hip replacement is an operation to take out the
old hip replacement and put in a new one. A hip replacement can
fail for the following reasons.
- Wearing out of the artificial
ball-and-socket joint.
- Infection in the hip replacement.
- Dislocation.
- Fracture of the thighbone (femur).
What are the benefits of surgery?
If the operation is successful, you should be
able to walk better and do more of your normal activities.
Are there any alternatives to surgery?
If your symptoms are mild, you may decide to
watch and wait for a while. If you have an infection, antibiotics
can sometimes stop the hip replacement failing.
If your hip replacement keeps coming out of
joint, you can wear a special brace. If you have a fracture, you
can sometimes be treated with traction.
What does the operation involve?
A variety of anaesthetic techniques are
possible. Your surgeon will make a cut on the side of your hip.
They will remove your hip replacement and any cement.
Your surgeon will put in a new hip replacement.
The hip replacement is fixed into the bone using an acrylic cement
or special coatings on the hip replacement that bond directly to
the bone.
The type of surgery you need can be more
complicated if the bone is thin or broken, or if you have an
infection.
What complications can happen?
1 General complications of any operation
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection in the surgical wound
- Unsightly scarring
- Blood clots
- Difficulty passing urine
- Chest infection
- Heart attack or stroke
2 Specific complications of this
operation
- Split in the femur
- Damage to nerves around the hip
- Infection
- Bone forming in muscles around the hip
replacement
- Loosening
- Dislocation
- Leg length difference
- Death
How soon will I recover?
You should be able to go home after seven to
ten days.
You will need to use crutches or a walking
frame for several weeks.
Most people make a good recovery and most
revision total hip replacements work well. It is important to
follow the advice your physiotherapist gives you about exercises to
strengthen your hip muscles.
A revision total hip replacement can fail with
time.
Summary
If your original hip replacement fails, you can
usually have another operation to do the hip replacement again. If
this revision operation is successful, you should be able to
continue many of your normal activities.
Acknowledgements
Author: Mr Stephen Milner DM FRCS (Tr. &
Orth.)
Illustrations: Mr Stephen Milner DM FRCS (Tr.
& Orth.)
This document is intended for information
purposes only and should not replace advice that your relevant
health professional would give you.
Copyright © 2008 EIDO
Healthcare Limited
The operation and treatment information on
this website is produced by EIDO Healthcare Ltd and is licensed by
Ramsay Health Care UK.
The intellectual property rights to the
information belong exclusively to EIDO Healthcare Limited.
You may not copy, print out, download or
otherwise reproduce any of the information other than for your
personal, non-commercial use.
The information should not replace advice that
your relevant health professional would give you.
Hospitals offering this treatment
- Ashtead, Surrey, Ashtead Hospital
- Banbury, Horton NHS Treatment Centre
- Bingley, Yorkshire Clinic
- Caterham, North Downs Hospital
- Chelmsford, Springfield Hospital
- Chorley, Euxton Hall Hospital
- Colchester, Oaks Hospital
- Doncaster, Park Hill Hospital
- Gloucester, Winfield Hospital
- Halesowen, West Midlands Hospital
- Hitchin, Pinehill Hospital
- Kettering, Woodand Hospital
- Nottinghamshire, Nottingham Hospital
- Ormskirk, Renacres Hospital
- Orpington, Bromley Private Patient Unit
- Peterborough, Fitzwilliam Hospital
- Preston, Fulwood hospital
- Reading, Berkshire Independent Hospital
- Salford, Oaklands Hospital
- Salisbury, New Hall Hospital
- Sawbridgeworth, Rivers Hospital
- Stafford, Rowley Hospital
- Torquay, Mount Stuart Hospital
- Truro, Duchy Hospital