Total Hip Revision
Total hip revision surgery is needed when a prosthetic hip loosens or otherwise becomes defective.Hip arthroplasty is generally successful at relieving pain and restoring some range of motion in patients who undergo the procedure. Many hip prostheses can function well for 20 years or more, as well. But in some patients who have hip replacement surgery—such as younger people who outlive their prosthetic hips—a total hip revision with a new prosthesis may eventually be required to keep the joint healthy and functioning properly.
When Total Hip Revision Surgery Is Needed
Whether a patient’s artificial hip has worn down over time or become damaged due to an injury, a total hip revision may be needed to replace the prosthesis. This procedure may also be recommended for patients who have had a hip replacement in the past and since developed a condition such as diabetes or obesity, which can cause the implants to fail or an infection to form in the area.Procedure Details
Although the concept of total hip revision is relatively simple—replacing a defective prosthetic hip with a new one—the procedure itself is more complicated than a patient’s first hip surgery and takes longer to complete.
A surgeon will take the following steps:
- Examine soft tissues in the area to ensure there is no infection or bad reaction to the metal components
- Remove the old implants and any cement used to bind them to the bones
- Prepare the bones to receive the new prosthesis, which may be complicated by bone loss
- Insert the new prosthesis
What to Expect
Because a total hip revision is a more complex procedure than a hip arthroplasty, it comes with a longer hospital stay and more potential risks to monitor, including:
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Dislocation
- Fracture
- Nerve damage
- Implant loosening or detachment
- Pulmonary embolism
- Different leg lengths
Some patients can leave the hospital on the same day as their surgery, while others remain for up to several days. In general, the recovery process is similar to that of a hip replacement.
Effectiveness
Most patients will feel pain relief and recover some range of motion after their total hip revision. With proper care and physical therapy, many can resume some of their normal activities in six to 12 weeks and recover further in six to 12 months. The board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons at Tampa General Hospital’s Orthopaedic Institute use the latest advances in surgical technology (such as the muscle-sparing MAKO® Robotic-Arm Assisted Technology) to achieve world-class outcomes for patients who elect a total hip revision or other orthopaedic procedures.