Revision Total Hip replacement
There are different reasons why patients may need a Revision Total Hip Replacement. It may be because the patient was relatively young when the original surgery was performed and the hip replacement has effectively worn out.
Other reasons include infection, dislocation and occasionally failure of the prosthesis used. The commonest reason for a revision is that the hip replacement has worn out and is now loose. Hip replacements wear out leading to bone loss around the implant with subsequent loosening.
This causes pain. The diagnosis can usually be made with X-rays, sometimes other scans are performed, e.g. a bone scan, CT scan or MRI scan. We also perform blood tests to rule out infection, and frequently we will draw some fluid off around the hip to send to the laboratory looking for evidence of infection.
X-Ray of a dislocated THR
Revision surgery is more complex than having a primary Total Hip replacement performed and is associated with increased risks. The operation itself takes longer and recovery is often slower. Not all hip surgeons are qualified to carry out revision surgery. Most revision hip replacements will involve the use of specialist equipment, bone grafts taken from donors, and implants designed for revision procedures where there has been bone loss.
The risks are the same for that of a primary (first time) hip replacement, however the incidence of all is slightly higher.