Tag: hip replacement surgery

A major international clinical trial had found that an emerging type of hip replacement implant dramatically reduces complications in people with pelvic fracture. The study, published in The Lancet, involved 1600 patients across 44 hospitals in the UK and Sweden. The DUALITY trial is the largest clinical trial to compare dual mobility total hip replacements (DM-THR) with standard total hip replacements (THR). The team found that people treated with DM-THR were 70 per cent less likely to experience a dislocation post-surgery – the most common complication after hip replacement for fracture.

A broken hip in older people is one of the most common serious injuries worldwide, affecting more than 14 million individuals each year and accounting for 1.4% of total direct healthcare expenditure in established market economies. The type of hip fracture studied in the DUALITY trial represents approximately half of all hip fractures experienced globally.

A total hip replacement where both the ball and socket of the hip are replaced, is recommended for older, active individuals with some types of hip fracture. For most patients, the procedure improves mobility and quality of life, but dislocation post-surgery can be common and can have serious consequences for those affected. When dislocation occurs, patients often require emergency hospital admission, procedures to reset the joint, and sometimes further surgery. This can lead to longer recovery times, added distress, and increased risk of further health problems.

Dual mobility-THR uses a small ball encased in a much larger plastic ball, and was developed specifically to reduce the risk of dislocation. In the DUALITY trial, the team aimed to establish if DM-THR reduced the risk of dislocation compared to THR. The results showed that the DM-THR implant does improve stability in the hip joint, making it less likely to dislocate after surgery. They found that within one year of surgery, just 1.3 per cent of patients receiving DM-THR experienced a dislocation, compared with 4.2 per cent of those given a standard THR. Importantly, the study found no increase in other risks such as infection or death, and overall complication rates were lower in patients receiving DM-THR.

The researchers conclude that dual mobility implants should be considered the preferred option for suitable older patients undergoing total hip replacement after a broken hip. Crucially, DM-THR requires no new technology or training. Surgeons are already familiar with both implant types, meaning the change could be implemented immediately within existing practice.

Professor Xavier Griffin, study author and Chair of the Centre of Bone and Joint Health at Queen Mary University of London and Honorary Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust, said:

“Dislocation is the most common major complication following hip replacement for a broken hip. People that experience this painful complication often require further surgery and the recovery following this is usually long, slow and painful. So, it has been an area that I, along with our surgeons around the world, have been wondering if there is any benefit to using these type of hip replacements in people with a broken hip. The fantastic news from DUALITY is that we can make a really substantial reduction in the risk. I hope that this research will make a real difference to many future patents who might avoid this catastrophic problem.

I’ve tried to run similar studies before but never been able to deliver one that is big enough to give us a reliable answer to the question. Meeting the team in Uppsala and making this international collaboration a reality has been a game changer for accelerating how quickly we can discover the answers to these sorts of questions.”

Professor Nils Hailer, study author, Chair of Orthopaedics at Uppsala University and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Uppsala University Hospital, said:

”After many years of analysing registry data and seeing both advantages and limitations of dual mobility hip replacements, I was eager to obtain solid evidence for or against the concept. Together with colleagues at Queen Mary, we succeeded in delivering a large, pragmatic, orthopaedic randomized trial involving both smaller hospitals and major referral centres across two countries.

“The results provide robust support for the use of dual mobility constructs in hip fracture patients in need of a total hip replacement. Beyond the findings themselves, I believe this collaboration sets a new benchmark for future randomized trials in European orthopaedic research, and we will jointly continue working towards that goal.”

Researchers say that beyond improving outcomes for patients, reducing dislocations could have a significant impact on healthcare systems. Complications such as post-surgery dislocations increase hospital stays, require additional operating time, and drive unplanned readmissions. Although dual mobility implants are currently more expensive than standard implants, researchers believe the reduction in complications could offset the higher upfront cost. A full economic analysis is underway.

Source: Queen Mary University of London

New global study using data from the National Joint Registry, estimates that modern hip replacements could last at least 30 years

A major international study led by researchers who have used extensive data from the NJR estimates that modern total hip replacements, those using today’s more advanced bearing surfaces, are likely to last over 30 years in 92% of patients. This new finding marks a significant improvement in long term implant longevity and durability, compared with previous generations of medical implant devices.

Published on 26 February 2026, the research represents the largest and most contemporary analysis of hip replacement conducted to date. The study was a global collaboration including data contribution from eight joint registries. The data of just under two million hip replacement procedures were analysed, with the NJR accounting for almost two-thirds of that data. Registry data were combined with evidence from 29 long term clinical studies, across 18 countries.

Data was included from adult patients undergoing primary hip replacement with contemporary bearing surfaces: highly cross‑linked polyethylene (XLPE), ceramic‑on‑XLPE, or third‑ and fourth‑generation ceramic‑on‑ceramic articulations. Only implants that are still in routine clinical use were included, ensuring the study reflects modern practice, rather than historic device performance. Across all registries, cases were followed for a minimum of 10 years, with implant survival tracked until first all‑cause revision. All three material types demonstrated similarly high survivorship.

The results of the study provide patients with reassurance in consideration of the commonly asked question “How long will my hip replacement last?”  It is encouraging to know that modern hip replacements could last decades.

With regard to previous research on implant longevity, a 2019 study into hip replacement longevity which was supported by the NJR, suggested that over half, ie. 58% of hip replacements lasted 25 years, but those estimates were based on some implants made of materials that are no longer widely used. In 2022, another review of NJR data was conducted to enable further understanding of implant longevity, which produced the paper: ‘How long revised and multiply-revised hip replacements last?’ You can read more on that here.

You can read the recent Lancet paper here: Survivorship of modern total hip replacement to 30 years: systematic review, meta-analysis, and extrapolation of global joint registry data – The Lancet

Source: National Joint Registry

Hip replacement surgery, or total hip arthroplasty (THA), can lessen pain and improve function in individuals with hip osteoarthritis. Some patients, however, continue to experience long-term physical deficits, including muscle weakness, decreased functional mobility, and increased fall risk, after the procedure. New research published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research reveals that a patient’s muscle quality before THA may predict their risk of such suboptimal recovery after surgery.

In the study, 10 people undergoing THA underwent imaging tests before surgery. Patients whose imaging results indicated poor muscle quality were more likely to perform poorly on movement tasks after surgery, compared with those with good muscle quality. The severity of patients’ osteoarthritis before surgery (as indicated by the imaging tests performed) was not linked to their functional abilities after surgery.

“The findings from this study indicate that hip muscle quality may be an important predictor of post-operative biomechanical recovery following hip replacement. Muscle quality is often overlooked, and magnetic resonance imaging is needed to visualise muscle composition, which is not routinely collected for hip replacement patients,” said corresponding author Jeannie F. Bailey, PhD, of the University of California, San Francisco. “Future studies will seek to understand possible implications for poor hip muscle quality on long-term functional outcomes.”

Source: Wiley