Hip revision surgery

Hip revision surgery tends to be a more complex and lengthy procedure than a primary hip replacement, and the cost of hip revision is therefore usually higher.

The cost of complex hip replacement surgery at Circle Health Group starts from £16,550*, however this price will vary from person to person. It depends on various factors including the extent of damage to your hip joint, the type of prosthesis you need or choose, whether your surgeon uses robotic technology during the procedure, and which hospital you choose to have treatment in.

Whatever the cost of your surgery, our team will make sure you know exactly what you will pay before you make a decision to book your operation. We'll put together a fixed-price package, which includes follow-up appointments with your consultant and care team, as well as a course of physiotherapy to boost your recovery.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you. We offer fixed-term monthly payment plans over one to five years with no deposit required. If you decide to pay over 10 months, you will pay interest-free. If you are paying for a longer period, you will pay 14.9% APR.

If you have private health insurance, hip revision surgery will usually be covered by your provider. Speak to your insurer directly to find out more information on this.

If you have any questions about our fixed-price packages and flexible payment options, you can speak to a friendly member of our advisory team on 0141 300 5009.

*This is just a guide price for patients paying for their own treatment. The actual cost of your treatment will be confirmed at the time of booking.

You need hip revision surgery following hip replacement surgery to remove and replace the original prosthesis with a brand new one. Hip replacement surgery is performed to treat a range of problems with your hip, including:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis occurs when the smooth cartilage across the surface of your hip joint wears down over time. It is sometimes referred to as wear and tear arthritis and is more common as you get older. The wear and tear can make your joint very painful and stiff and can really reduce your mobility.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory joint condition caused by an autoimmune process, which happens when your body attacks its healthy cells by mistake. This often causes pain, swelling, and inflammation in your joints. Joints affected by RA are commonly surrounded by inflamed tissue, which often results in chronic pain.

Bursitis

Bursitis happens when the fluid filled sacs (known as bursa) that cushion and protect your joints become inflamed. This can result in pain and swelling in your joints. Usually it presents as a dull, aching pain that can persist even when you take traditional painkillers or try gentle stretching.

Gout

Gout is a painful inflammatory condition caused by the build-up of uric acid (urate) in your joints. Excess uric acid can cause crystals to form in your joints, resulting in sudden attacks of pain and swelling, which might be accompanied by heat, redness, and tenderness. People most commonly get gout in their big toe(s), but it can occur in other joints, such as your knees and ankles.

A hip fracture

A hip fracture is when a crack occurs at the top of your thigh bone (femur). Hip fractures are usually caused by a traumatic injury or direct blow to your hip such as an injury during contact sports, but they can sometimes happen because of a condition that weakens your hip bone, for example osteoporosis.

A hip replacement can effectively manage all the above joint issues, restoring mobility and function in your hip and improving your overall physical and emotional wellbeing for years to come.

There are key symptoms that indicate you might need hip revision surgery. These can occur at any point after your hip replacement surgery, but usually occur years after because the prosthesis has eroded over time.

Symptoms that indicate you might need hip revision surgery are like those you experience when you need a hip replacement. They include:

• Chronic pain in your hip that is not relieved with painkillers
• Pain that keeps you up at night
• Pain that interferes with your everyday life
• Stiffness and limited mobility in your hip
• Redness and heat around your hip
• A popping or clicking sound when you move your hip

If symptoms happen within a year or two of having your hip replacement, it could be that your hip replacement has 'failed', meaning the prosthesis has not been fitted properly and loosens quickly, the cement has loosened over time, or your bone has not grown around the prosthesis (helping keep it fixed securely in place). This is not a common occurrence. The overall satisfaction rate for hip replacements is very high.

Hip revision surgery after infection

Some people also experience an infection shortly after the initial replacement surgery (this is rare). Bacteria can grow around the prosthesis, causing damage to the replacement and inside your body - in this case you will need to have hip revision quickly after this to prevent the infection spreading and minimise damage inside your body.

You will meet with an orthopaedic consultant for your initial consultation to discuss whether you might have need hip revision surgery. You can usually see an orthopaedic specialist for your initial consultation within 48 hours of booking your appointment with us.

During this initial appointment, your consultant will ask a series of questions about your general health and your medical history. They will want to know about any existing medical conditions you have, as well as the current symptoms you are experiencing. They'll ask you how these symptoms impact your everyday life, how soon they occurred after your hip replacement, and whether you have had any treatment for them yet, such as physiotherapy.

You might need an X-ray to examine your hip

Your consultant will next carry out a gentle physical examination of your hip. In some cases, they might also send for you to get an X-ray, which will be carried out onsite by one of our radiologists. This is to look inside your body and examine the extent of damage to your current prosthesis. After your consultant has identified whether you need hip revision surgery, they will share more information about what the procedure entails and how you can prepare for it.

Ask as many questions as you'd like - that's why we're here

Your initial consultation is an important and positive step in your journey towards a new and improved hip. It's where we get to know you as an individual and find out what you need from treatment. To make the most of your initial consultation, please know you can talk as openly and honestly as you like about the symptoms you're experiencing, the way they make you feel, and what you're hoping to get from your surgery with us.

There isn't a huge amount you can do to prepare for hip revision surgery, but the preparation process is like that of hip replacement surgery, because the procedures are very similar. This involves:

Weight loss

If you are overweight, your consultant will ask that you lose weight before surgery. They'll give you detailed advice about how to do this safely and healthily, and how to maintain a balanced diet and exercise regime that suits you as an individual. Being a healthy weight minimises the risk of complications occurring during surgery, and helps you recover faster.

Preparatory physiotherapy

You might be having regular physiotherapy sessions to manage your painful hip before surgery. Physiotherapy helps strengthen the muscles around your hip and ensure your hip remains as mobile as possible, despite being damaged. Your dedicated physiotherapist will have produced a simple exercise plan that you can follow to help you get stronger before surgery.

No alcohol

You should avoid drinking alcohol for at least 48 hours before having hip replacement surgery. Please speak with your consultant about this in more detail.

Changes to your medication

Your consultant will also share information on whether you should avoid taking your usual medication before going into hospital, or the kind of medication you might need to take after you have surgery.

Making your home recovery-friendly

In the weeks after your surgery, your mobility will be limited as you recover. We recommend stocking up your house with food and resources or arranging for a friend or family member to do so. You might need a raised toilet seat or shower stool to use after surgery. Both of these can help you avoid bending your hip too much, which can slow down your recovery time. Remember to also eliminate any tripping hazards such as uneven flooring (this could be anything from uneven tiles to loose rugs and carpets) or general mess in your home before surgery. This is to ensure you don't trip and injure your hip after surgery.

Arranging a lift home from hospital

You will not be able to drive yourself home from hospital, so you will need to arrange for someone to collect you, or we can organise a taxi to collect you if you would prefer.

As with hip replacement surgery, you will be given an anaesthetic before the procedure. This is usually either a general anaesthetic (which means you'll be asleep for the whole procedure) or a spinal anaesthetic (this numbs you from the waist down, so you will be awake, but won't feel any pain). Your doctor will explain the kind of anaesthesia you will have during your consultation to ensure you feel informed and prepared before surgery.

Your consultant will make an incision (a cut) on the side of your hip and remove your old prosthesis, as well as any cement that might have been used to hold the implant in place. The old implant will then be replaced with new components.

All the varieties of implants that our consultants use have been tried and tested and shown to offer excellent, long-lasting results. There are different benefits to different types, and your surgeon will have explained ahead of time exactly why they chose the one they did for you - this decision will be based on your personal circumstances, including your age and the extent of damage to your original prosthesis.

After your new implant has been fitted securely, your consultant will bend and move your leg to ensure you have the right level of flexibility and that the implant is secure. If so, they'll close the incision using dissolvable stitches. The outermost layer of your skin will be closed with glue or sutures.

Hip revision surgery normally takes one to two hours to complete.

Your recovery timeline will vary depending on many factors like your age and fitness levels, but it generally follows the same timeline as that of hip replacement surgery. You will probably remember the various stages of your recovery process after having hip replacement surgery, so you'll better understand what to expect this time around.

Of course, your consultant is there to answer any questions you might have about your recovery following hip revision surgery. They will understand your individual circumstances and be able to provide a more detailed, personalised recovery timeline for you to follow at home.

One to two days after surgery

You should be able to get out of bed and begin walking (with the help of your dedicated physiotherapist) within two days of having surgery. You will need walking aids such as crutches or a walker to support and protect your hip while walking. Most people can leave hospital after two or three days, but you won't be able to drive for a while, so we recommend you ask a friend or family member to come and collect you. We can arrange a taxi to collect you, if you'd prefer.

Two to six weeks after surgery

Within two weeks, you will be able to walk more regularly, but you will still need to use a walking aid.

You can start incorporating gentle exercises back into your everyday routine after two to six weeks. Gentle, slow walks are the ideal way to build your fitness levels up safely but surely. Your physiotherapist will also recommend the best exercises that are unique to you and your recovery timeline. You can incorporate these at different stages of your recovery.

You can also usually return to work at this stage, but this depends on your job. If you have an office job, you can return to work, but if you have a more manual job, you might need to take more time off to avoid straining your hip.

Eight weeks after surgery

Most people can walk without crutches or a walker after around eight weeks. You should speak to your consultant about whether you can drive again, as this will depend on the progress of your recovery. It is usually safe when you can perform an emergency stop without any pain. You should also talk to your car insurance provider, as they may have specific rules about when you can drive after surgery.

Your physiotherapy after hip revision surgery

You should be well on the way to a full recovery within twelve weeks of having surgery. You will have regular physiotherapy throughout your recovery period in hospital and at home to strengthen your hip muscles and improve your mobility and range of motion. These exercises can accelerate your recovery.

It is important to remember that complications from hip revision surgery are rare and that there are risks associated with any surgery. Potential complications during any surgical procedure include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Scarring
• Blood clots
• Chest infection
• Difficulty passing urine
• Heart attack
• Stroke

Specific complications that can occur during hip revision surgery include:

• Pain in your hip that persists after surgery
• Infection
• A split in your femur
• Damage to your nerves
• Damage to blood vessels
• Bone forming in the muscles around your new prosthesis
• Loosening of your new prosthesis
• Hip dislocation

Serious complications as a result of hip revision surgery are rare. If you have any concerns about these, speak with your consultant. They will be able to discuss their likelihood with you in more detail and calm some of your anxieties.

When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times to fit your schedule
• The freedom to choose your hospital and your consultant
• Bespoke, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Private ensuite rooms as standard
• Tasty and nutritious meals cooked onsite to your dietary requirements
• Support from the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help spread the cost of your care

If you want to know more about hip revision surgery and find out if it's the right treatment for you, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in November 2022. Next review due November 2025.

1. Hip revision, Cleveland Clinic
2. Revision total hip replacement, OrthoInfo
3. Hip replacement, NHS