The term arthritis literally means “inflammation of the joint”. Arthritis is one of the most common causes of pain and stiffness in the hip. It can make it hard to do everyday activities like bending over to tie a shoe, rising from a chair, or taking a short walk. Arthritis is a progressive disorder, which means that it typically starts gradually and gets worse with time.

Types of Arthritis

There are five main types of arthritis that can affect the hip joint. They are:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Psoriatic arthritis

Hip revision surgery is performed to repair an artificial hip joint (prosthesis) that has been damaged over time due to an infection, or due to normal wear and tear of the prosthetic hip. Revision surgery helps to correct the problem so the hip can function normally again.

The use of artificial hip implants is extremely effective in improving hip joints that are damaged by injury or some form of arthritis. Artificial joints, including hip joints, do not last forever. The typical life of an artificial hip joint is 10-15 years, depending on the patient’s daily use of the joint. Patients with artificial hip joints are typically over the age of 55 and have developed severe arthritis in the hip. After a period of normal wear and tear of the hip joint, the prosthesis does not fit as securely and is not as effective. In these cases, your doctor may recommend hip revision surgery.

Revision surgery may also be recommended if an infection has developed in the tissue surrounding the joint. If infected, the muscle, tendon and ligament tissues in the hip joint will become weakened and damaged. The infection will also damage the hipbone.