Loosening of the Hip Prosthesis | Treatments | MedStar Health

In order for a total hip replacement to function properly, the implant or prosthesis must remain firmly attached to the bone. Over time, however, an implant may loosen from the underlying bone, causing the hip to become painful.

The cause of loosening is not always clear, but high-impact activities, excessive body weight, and wear of the plastic spacer between the two metal components of the implant are all factors that may contribute.

Also, patients who are younger when they undergo the initial hip replacement may outlive the life expectancy of their artificial hip. For these patients, there is a higher long-term risk that hip revision surgery will be needed due to loosening or wear.

Related treatments

Total Hip Revision

Hip replacements are designed to last for many years. But sometimes they can wear out due to natural use over time or an infection that can develop in nearby tissues. Hip revision surgery is performed to repair an artificial hip.