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If it is determined that your knee is too worn for a partial knee replacement, a total knee replacement is the best procedure to treat your arthritic knee.
Loosening of the implant – the hip replacement may become painful after many years because the components have begun to wear and loosen.
Fracture – a fall or severe blow can cause a fracture of the bone near the hip replacement that may require a revision of the hip replacement and/or or operative fixation of the fracture.
Infection – this can be a very serious complication. If a deep infection develops in a hip replacement, revision is often needed to eradicate the infection and to implant new non-infected components.
Dislocation – for a variety of reason a hip replacement can become unstable, meaning that the ball and socket become dislocated. If this is a recurrent problem, it may require a revision surgery to make the replacement more stable and prevent future dislocations.
Implant recall – on occasion, the implant used in joint replacement is found to have a problem. As a result, patients with a recalled implant should be closely monitored by their surgeon to evaluate if the recalled implant is causing a problem. Revision surgery is sometimes necessary when an implant is recalled.
We advise patients to avoid high impact activity such as running and singles tennis, which can shorten the lifespan of the joint replacement. Walking or biking for exercise is better than running, and opt for doubles instead of singles tennis.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight, especially obese, is a main factor in developing arthritis in the first place. People who are overweight are more likely to experience loosening of an implant.
Once the initial healing has taken place and discomfort has diminished, see your orthopedic surgeon if pain develops suddenly. Do not wait to have a problem evaluated.
If you develop a bacterial infection in another part of your body after joint replacement, be sure to see your medical doctor for appropriate antibiotics.
Pay a visit to your orthopedic surgeon every few years after hip replacement, even if the joint feels good. The physician can check for early loosening of the implant or another minor problem before it causes a major headache, such as dislocation.
Have your primary hip replacement with an experienced surgeon who specializes in the procedure and at a center that performs a high number of joint replacements to ensure the best outcome and lower the risk of complications.
The decision to have hip replacement surgery should be a cooperative one made by you, your family, your primary care provider, and your orthopedic surgeon. The process of making this decision often begins with a referral by your primary care provider to an orthopedic surgery specialist for an initial evaluation.
To help you decide if hip replacement is right for you, talk with your provider. You can ask him or her:
Your orthopedic surgery provider may recommend a hip replacement revision to replace a damaged artificial hip joint with a new one. Your provider will only consider a hip replacement revision if other treatment options have not improved your condition. Your provider may recommend a hip replacement revision to replace a hip prosthesis that is damaged due to:
People who have completed hip replacement surgery and encountered difficulties or complications at any time after the surgery are candidates for revision hip surgery. The recommendation will be determined by a highly trained orthopedic surgery provider after reviewing a candidate’s medical history and evaluating the risks and benefits.
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