Revision hip surgery is longer, more technically demanding surgery with generally less successful results than for the first replacement. Special equipment and techniques are required to help with the reconstruction. When surgery is performed for infection, two or more surgeries are often required to achieve the final revision replacement.

 

Revision hip surgery is longer, more technically demanding surgery with generally less successful results than for the first replacement. Special equipment and techniques are required to help with the reconstruction. When surgery is performed for infection, two or more surgeries are often required to achieve the final revision replacement.

 

Bone loss is frequently encountered during revision surgery, which can leave the remaining bone weak. To address this bone graft may be required taken either from elsewhere in the body (autograft) or from bone donated from another patient (allograft).

Occasionally it is not possible to perform another hip replacement when the soft tissues and bone are severely damaged when consideration may be given to leaving the patient without a joint (called a Girdlestone procedure). Despite the absence of the hip joint patients may still be able to walk, some with surprisingly good function.