Liner of Hip Replacement

Hello @lemonlaw and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see that @palaff2023 has joined you to share their experience and what information they have. It sounds like replacing the liner would be a similar recovery to the original replacement. Have you been told this replacement is urgent as well?

Yes the cost of revision will be covered by Exactech.
I’m seeing the surgeon this Wednesday to see what the next step is .

No, He did not say the revision was urgent .
My concern is the falls and breaking my hand . He did order PT which has helped with the strength in both legs

My liner is under recall (Exactech) seeing surgeon Wednesday to see what to expect since I have had three falls in last six months .
I sure don’t want to go through another surgery but guess I don’t have a choice. My PT says recovery should be easy since I’m strong and very active .

6 weeks ago, I bent down to pick something off the floor. I heard and felt terrible grinding. A week later I was able to get an X-ray and see a nurse practitioner. The head had partially dislocated from the cap. Not completely. No pain, just odd clicking and I felt shorter on that side. Saw another orthopedic doctor and am scheduled for surgery tomorrow. Several doctors I saw said it was fairly urgent. I’ve been careful these past 6 weeks as I am terrified of having it pop out and then having to go to an emergency room and getting the luck of the draw. I am not in my home state and navigating a different healthcare system. The theory is the liner is broken down and at best, the cap and liner need to be replaced and probably the ball as well. I did have an aspiration a few weeks ago and a lot of black fluid was pulled out. Waiting on chromium and cobalt levels. Anxiety producing for sure. My first replacement on this hip was 12.5 years ago. So I guess plastic does NOT last forever. The breakdown of the plastic and where it goes in your body is very concerning. Good luck with scheduling your procedure. Getting a surgery time seems to be a big obstacle.

I'm interested to know if you had the plastic replaced. I'm going in two weeks for the same surgery. My original hip was done 31 years ago. I have no pain but in a routine X-ray a hip surgeon told me the plastic is wearing thin. I trust him and he definitely doesn't need the work like some surgeons. I'm active, these days just 20 to 30 mile bike rides 5 or 6 days a week and weights. But over the 31 years after replacement I have swam masters, biked and run I also lift weights 3 days a week. So not looking forward to the down time but the doctor says it should be no more than 4 weeks and I'll be up and walking same day as surgery.

I also have a Exactech recalled hip. I am in the beginning stages of getting tested, a CT and Bone scan.
I haven't had any major pain, but I do have arthritis. Sometimes it feels like my left hip wants to lock up, and has been doing this for a while. I pray I won't have to get my liner replaced. My tests are scheduled for next week, so I'll go from there.

@vbig I know it is disappointing when "replacement parts" fail us, but I can tell you that revision surgery is almost routine these days because so many of us have had replacements at any early, active age. I do know from experience that if the wear on the liner is sufficient to threaten dislocation, I would be in line to get it fixed ASAP - that was the worst pain I ever had. Also, if the liner is wearing at an accelerated rate, it may be depositing debris in your body, which could be problematic to your general health.
Will you let us know what you learn?
Sue

Thank you Sue! I'm know it's something that needs to be addressed. That's why I went back to my surgeon, and they ordered the tests. If I need it, it will be done! Of course, any thing man made may fail, l mean, look at all the car recalls!! 🙂