Loosening of the prosthesis

Although the survival of total hip prostheses is very high, an implant which presents loosening can always be replaced. The patient with the prosthesis feels pain when walking which limits their walking perimeter. They may even feel pain when sitting down, getting up from a chair and starting to walk. On the other hand, it is essential that the patient with the hip prosthesis continues to regularly receive the follow-up care indicated by their specialist, in order to minimise wear of the bone which could cause the prosthesis to loosen.

Causes of Loosening

Loosening is caused by multiple factors, although it is generally attributed to the body's reaction to polyethylene particles which become detached from the polyethylene cup of the acetabular component. Modern high cross-linked polyethylene cups present less wear, which means that this phenomenon can be expected to occur increasingly less often in years to come.

Nevertheless, we have replacement implants for each situation, so it should not be thought that a person has a limited number of chances for hip prosthesis replacement in the worst of cases. In addition, the availability of a bone bank allows for anatomical reconstruction of those portions of bone which so require. Likewise, in addition to examinations via X-ray, scans and gammagraphy, we perform three-dimensional helicoidal CAT scans which allow us to observe the bone defect in detail and the state of the loosened prosthesis with great precision.