Does orthopaedic surgery perform revision joint replacement?

Revision surgery replaces or repairs part or all of an earlier joint replacement. It may be considered for loosening, wear, instability, a fracture around the implant, infection, or persistent symptoms after other causes have been checked. The operation can be more complex than the original replacement because the surgeon may need to remove old components, manage bone loss, and restore stability. The exact approach depends on the joint, implant, bone quality, and findings from examination and imaging.

Collect records of the original operation, implant details, previous scans, and any earlier treatment. Describe pain at rest and during movement, clicking, giving way, fever, wound changes, and changes in walking or daily activities. The assessment may include blood tests, imaging, and sometimes a sample from around the joint when infection is a concern. Do not postpone review of a new decline in function while waiting for symptoms to settle on their own.

Seek urgent assessment for a hot, red, swollen joint with fever, sudden inability to bear weight, a new deformity after a fall, severe unrelenting pain, or a wound that opens or drains. Chest pain, sudden breathlessness, or one-sided calf swelling also require emergency care. These symptoms can signal a problem needing rapid treatment and are not a reason to wait for a routine surgical appointment.

What is the likely reason for my symptoms or implant problem? Would revision involve one component or the whole replacement? How will infection and bone loss be assessed? What movement, walking aid, rehabilitation, and support might be needed after surgery?