Revision Hip Replacement
A painful hip replacement needs a cause before it needs a plan. How the revision evaluation works and what to bring.
The short answer
Revision hip replacement is another operation on a hip that has already been replaced. The evaluation asks what is failing, why it is failing, what information is still needed, and whether another operation is likely to help.
Why the evaluation is different
Pain after hip replacement has several possible sources. The workup may involve prior operative records, serial imaging, examination, laboratory testing, and sometimes additional studies before a plan is clear.
The plan can range from non-surgical management, to changing one component, to rebuilding bone and soft tissue. The risks of a first replacement, including infection, blood clots, fracture, and dislocation, are all present in revision surgery and are often higher; the goals and healing demands differ too.
Revision hip and knee surgery is part of Dr. Patel’s practice, and was part of his fellowship training in adult reconstruction at JIS Orthopedics.
What to bring
Prior operative reports, implant information, earlier images, laboratory results, and a timeline of symptoms can make the first consultation more useful.
An appointment does not assume another operation is needed. The purpose is to establish the problem and the reasonable options.
Use the consultation to make the decision clearer.
- What information from my first surgery is useful?
- Could the pain be unrelated to the implant?
- What makes a revision more complex?
- What are the realistic goals?
Sources and further reading
- Revision Total Hip ReplacementAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Revision Total Hip ArthroplastyAmerican Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons