Mr Westerman has a particular interest in this very specialist area of surgery.

 

What is a Revision Hip Surgery?

 

Revision (or re-do) surgery is performed when the first hip replacement has failed.

 

There are many different reasons for performing revision surgery, so the operation must be customised and specific to the problem being addressed.

 

Mr Westerman utilises thorough electronic planning and reproducible surgical techniques to restore normal anatomy and restore bone loss wherever possible.  A wide variety of surgical implants are available to provide all necessary reconstruction options.

 

Mr Westerman has an interest in the advanced challenges of infections and fractures around joint replacements; and is a member of the regional bone infection group.

 

What can I expect?

 

Sometimes you will not be able to put your full weight to the ground for the first few weeks following surgery, depending on the reconstruction that is required.  

 

The risks of revision surgery are greater than the first time around, however your quality of life is incredibly important. Often there are significant risks to your quality of life if you do not have the surgery, which should not be ignored either.

 

Any potential complications and specifically high risks will be discussed during your consultation, however it is important to be aware:

• Bleeding can be increased, and might require a transfusion. In high risk operations, your blood cells can be collected, filtered and re-transfused.

• Infection risk is increased due to the scar tissue already present.

• The sciatic nerve can be trapped in the scar tissue and be injured, which might result in numbness to the lower leg and a reduction of foot control, requiring the use of a light weight splint.

• Blood clots are always a concern and can even be fatal. We aim to get you mobile very quickly, to get the circulation flowing. We will provide you with injections to thin your blood. 

• Dislocations are a concern, particular in the early weeks. Every effort is made to make the hip stable, but it will take quite a few weeks to get your muscles strong enough to make it stable. It is very important to follow the strict precautions in the first few 6-12 weeks.

• Leg length discrepancy. There may be a change to your leg length in order to ensure the joint is as stable as possible. Adjusting the leg length does alter the tensions around the hip. Often restoring the leg length to normal provides good joint stability, but not always. A shoe raise might be required, however often this is only a few millimetres.