Current concepts of hip arthroplasty for radiologists: part 2, revisions and complications

This article reviews the imaging features of revisions and complications of hip replacement arthroplasty and relates these features to the current understanding about how and why these failures occur.

Short-term failures of hip replacements are most commonly the result of instability and dislocation. Complications ranging from osteolysis caused by granulomatous reaction to particulate wear debris lead to many long-term failures. Attempts to reduce wear debris through changes in design and materials have reduced the rate of some complications but have resulted in new ones. Infection remains a devastating complication that is difficult to resolve.