Revision joint replacement surgery is a procedure to replace an artificial joint that has become infected, loose or worn out. This type of surgery may also be necessary if there is a fracture or ligament damage that causes the implant to fail.
Although revision joint replacement is an increasingly common procedure, it is less straightforward than joint replacement surgery and there is a greater risk of complications. This is because the surgeon needs to remove the existing joint implant and any cement that was used to hold it in place. Some implants can be difficult to remove, for example, if the thigh bone has grown onto the implant. In older people the bones can be thinner which means they are more likely to fracture. If this happens, they might need to rebuild the bone using bone from another part of the body – called a bone graft.
This can make the operation longer than the original joint replacement surgery and recovery may also take longer.