Limitations of Total Hip Replacement

• Age of patient
  Not designed for the lifestyle of 40 year-olds
• Limited longevity
  15 to 18 years with current designs
• Some loss of ROM
• Clicking or other noises
• Lifelong precautions

As good as a prosthetic joint may be, it is not the same as a normal, healthy joint. It functions very well, if subjected to an activity level of an average 70-year old person. Naturally, a 40-year old will, on average, be much more active, and would possibly subject the prosthesis to loads for which it was not designed, causing premature failure of the implant. Avoiding excessive loading of the artificial joint is especially important in younger patients because of their longer life expectancy.

Hips can be successfully replaced in younger people, but the patient must accept the limitations.

A typical artificial hip will last about 15 to 18 years in 80 to 90% of the cases. The more it is used (and abused) the faster it will wear out. Re-do replacement surgery is possible but is a much more difficult operation.

Artificial joint does not function exactly like a normal, healthy joint. There is always some loss of the range of motion; there may be some clicks or other benign noises. Some aching and discomforts may also be occasionally felt.

Because of the inherent limitation of the design of artificial joints, some life-long precautions have to be observed. One needs to restrict high-velocity, high-impact activities (running, jumping, water skiing, etc.). Certain positions of the joint should be avoided (crossing leg, bending the hip over 90°, etc.) to avoid dislocation.