Hip Revision Surgery in Portland, OR

The vast majority of patients will not need a revision procedure after the original hip replacement. For some patients, however, hip revision surgery may be necessary due to:

• Loosening of the implant over time – Hip replacement implants may function well for a number of years, but over time, the implant can loosen from the bone. This can be very painful and may require revision surgery to correct. Patients who frequently participate in high-impact activities or are overweight may have an increased risk of implant loosening.
• Wear on the implant over time – The implant’s plastic liner can wear down over time, creating tiny particles that are attacked by the body’s immune system. Moreover, the immune system can also attack and deteriorate the surrounding bone while trying to eliminate the plastic particles, creating a condition called osteolysis. As the bone deteriorates, the implant may become loose.
• Infection – An infection may occur after the initial hip replacement procedure. An infected hip replacement can cause implant loosening, pain, instability, and drainage. It is difficult to eliminate the infection in a hip replacement with antibiotics alone, so revision surgery is often needed to replace the original implants and clear the infection.
• Fracture – If one or more of the bones surrounding the hip implant are fractured, this may cause the implant to loosen, requiring revision surgery to correct.

Because a hip revision surgery is more complex than the original hip replacement procedure, it typically takes longer for your surgeon to perform.

Your surgeon will make an incision in the same location as the original hip replacement, but it may need to be a larger incision to allow for the removal of the old implants. Our surgeon, Dr. Amer Mirza, takes care to preserve as much healthy bone as possible while removing the original implants, which can be very time-consuming, particularly if bone cement was used to hold the original implant in place. In some cases, Dr. Mirza may need to perform a controlled break of the femur (thighbone) to remove the stemmed implant. 

Once the original implants have been removed, Dr. Mirza will prepare the bones for the new implant. Revision implants are often larger than the original implants to make up for the bone loss. Metal augments may also be added to the implant for this reason so that the hip is in proper alignment.

If hip revision surgery is needed due to an infection, Dr. Mirza may simply be able to wash the bacteria out of the joint and replace the ball and plastic spacer. The patient is then given antibiotics for several weeks until the infection clears.

In other infection cases, all hip implant components may need to be removed to clear the infection. In these cases, the surgery is done in a staged approach. First, Dr. Mirza removes the implants and places a temporary spacer in the hip that is treated with antibiotics. The patient is then given intravenous antibiotics until the infection clears. In the second stage of the hip revision, Dr. Mirza goes back in and places the new implants.

The recovery process for hip revision surgery is similar to what you experienced with the original hip replacement , but it may be a longer process.Most patients need to stay in the hospital for at least a few days after surgery. After returning home, you will likely need assistance for several days or weeks until you are able to walk on your own. Medications will be given to help with the pain. Physical therapy is an important part of your recovery process. Physical therapists work with you to strengthen the leg and restore function in the hip.Most patients are able to resume all normal activities within 6-8 weeks of surgery.