Hip revision surgery in Leicester

What is hip revision surgery at Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital?

Hip revision surgery is a surgical procedure to take out your old, worn out hip replacement to put in a new one. 

Hip replacements can fail for several reasons:

• Wearing out of the artificial ball and socket joint
• Infection in the hip joint
• Dislocation
• Fracture of the thighbone (Femur).

To aid in your rehabilitation after surgery, you will be eligible for our Recovery Plus programme at your local Nuffield Health Leicester Fitness & Wellbeing Gym.

What to expect on the day of your hip revision surgery

At Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital, we’ll show you to your room where one of our healthcare team members will meet you to explain each stage of your treatment and recovery.

Your orthopaedic consultant will come to see you and if you haven’t signed a consent form already, you’ll be asked to sign one by your consultant. This is to confirm that you understand the details of your operation, the benefits and the risks associated with it, both during and after your operation.

When it’s time to go to the operating theatre, our ward staff will take you. There, our theatre staff will take you to the anaesthetic room. They are very reassuring – they will understand how you feel and will try to help you in every way possible.

What happens during hip revision surgery?

During your operation your surgeon will remove your old hip prothesis and any cement that might have been used to hold it in place. He will replace your old prosthesis with new components.

Your surgeon’s choice of prosthesis will be based on several factors such as your age, your level of activity and your current condition. Both cemented and uncemented replacements are used. If you have concerns be sure and ask your surgeon about his prosthesis choice.

After your hip revision

Once your operation is over, you’ll be taken to the recovery room where you will wake from the anaesthetic. You may have a small tube coming out of your wound, this is to drain away any excess fluid from the inside of the wound. You may also have a drip (infusion) going into your arm. This will keep you hydrated until you are able to drink, and it can also be used to give you pain relief.

Back in your room

Once back in your room, our nursing team will continue to check on you to make sure you are recovering well.

While you are in bed, you may have help with the circulation in your legs, in order to prevent blood clots (DVT). The first day or so you could wear boots on your legs that are inflated with air. You will also wear support stockings to help your circulation and may have daily injections or tablets to help prevent blood clotting which may continue for up to 6 weeks. Also we may encourage you to move your legs if you are able.

Going home after your hip revision at Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital

One of our on-site physiotherapists will give you some exercises to help get your new hip moving. These are important to help you make a good recovery. You may be using crutches or a walker.  When you are able to walk up and down stairs, you can go home. You won’t be able to drive, so you will need someone to come and take you home from the hospital, once you have been discharged.

So you don’t damage your new hip and to help your wound heal, you should follow a few restriction for the first six weeks of your recovery:

• Avoid bending your new hip beyond 90 degrees
• Avoid rolling your leg towards the other leg
• Avoid crossing your legs
• Avoid twisting on your new hip when standing
• Use the shower instead of the bath
• Keep wearing your support stockings - you may have to do so for four to six weeks.

If you have any questions or concerns about your restrictions be sure and ask a member of Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital's Healthcare Team or Physiotherapists.

What are the risks involved with a hip revision?

Most people make a good recovery and return to normal activities following hip revision. However as with any surgery there can be complications.

• Pain
• Bleeding
• Infection of the surgical site (incision)
• Scarring
• Blood clots (DVT - deep vein thrombosis)
• Difficulty passing urine
• Chest infection
• Heart attack
• Stroke.

Specific complications might include:

• Split in the femur
• Nerve damage around the hip
• Damage to the blood vessels around the hip
• Infection in the hip
• Loosening of the replacement
• Dislocation
• Leg length difference
• Death (rare).