Reasons for revision hip surgery: a retrospective review

The purpose of this study was to determine the indications for contemporary revision hip surgery in a consecutive series of patients. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and radiographs of 439 revision hip surgeries done between 1996 and 2003. Fifty-five percent of the surgeries were for aseptic loosening, 14% were for instability, 13% were for osteolysis around a well-fixed implant, 7% were for infection, 5% were for periprosthetic fracture, 3% were for conversion of a hemiarthroplasty, 1% was for psoas impingement, 1% was for loose recalled implants, and 1% was for implant fracture. As expected, aseptic loosening was the most common reason for revision surgery. Instability was a common reason for early revision whereas revision for osteolysis around a well-fixed implant was a more common reason for late revision.