Hip Failed Implants

Failed Hip Implant Surgery and Repair | Treatments for Failed Hip Surgery

Dr. Movement and Hip Failed Implants

Keeping you moving forward

Implants in the hip joint can fail for a variety of reasons. Most common causes of implant failure are infection, loosening and implant wear. It is important to determine the cause of implant failure before considering treatment options.

It is also essential to assess the soft tissues around the implant so that tissue-sparing surgery can be performed.

Implants in the hip joint can fail for a variety of reasons. Most common causes of implant failure are infection, loosening and implant wear. It is important to determine the cause of implant failure before considering treatment options.

It is also essential to assess the soft tissues around the implant so that tissue-sparing surgery can be performed.

Anatomy

Articular cartilage covers the surface of a bone where it meets with another bone at a joint. In the hip, cartilage covers the ball (femoral head) and the socket (acetabulum). This cartilage is important to provide both a smooth, lubricated surface for joint articulation and to help distribute load to reduce stress on your bones. In addition to the cartilage, there is a shock-absorber called the labrum in the hip. Muscles and ligaments (rubber bands) around the hip help control movement and stability of the hip joint.

Evaluation

Your healthcare provider will evaluate your range of motion, measure strength, and perform special tests to help diagnose the source of your hip symptoms.

They will use the results of their exam to determine if you need further testing (e.g. x-ray, MRI, CT scan).

Hip Failed Implant Management

We offer a step-wise series of treatment options for patients with hip implant failure. These range from simple, non-invasive modalities to more procedural treatments. Some examples are as listed here:

  • Physical therapy and conditioning with our experience physical therapists
  • Medical management with anti-inflammatory medications and lotions
  • Surgical options

Surgery for hip implant failure is the end treatment. This is the best option to relieve pain and restore function when more conservative options have failed.

There are several surgical options for hip implant failure depending on the diagnosis:

  • Failed fracture fixation – removal of implants and conversion to total hip replacement
  • Infection – removal of implants 🡪 placement of antibiotic spacer 🡪 revision hip replacement
  • Total hip loosening – revision total hip replacement
  • Fractures around total hips – revision total hip replacement

Each of these surgeries are performed in a minimally-invasive, robotic and computer-assisted fashion. In all cases, patients are active right after the surgery and in many cases, patients can go home the same day of surgery.