How Long Does a Hip or Knee Replacement Last?

A hip or knee replacement is one of the most reliable operations in modern medicine, and the single question patients ask most is how long it will last. This guide sets out what the largest long-term studies show, what makes a replacement last longer or wear out sooner, and what happens in the small number of cases where one needs replacing. It is general information, not a substitute for the advice Mr Subramanian gives you about your own joint.

How long does a hip replacement last?

A modern total hip replacement is one of the most successful and durable operations there is. The most recent evidence, using National Joint Registry and global registry data, projects that around nine in ten modern total hip replacements are still working at 25 years, and close to that at 30 years. The National Joint Registry notes that, with today's implants, a hip replacement can be expected to last the rest of their life for most patients over about 70. An older figure of around 58 per cent, still widely quoted, reflects implants fitted decades ago. These numbers describe large groups of patients rather than a guarantee for any one person.

How long does a knee replacement last?

Knee replacements are similarly long-lasting. A large registry study found that 82.3% of total knee replacements were still working at 25 years, with partial (unicompartmental) replacements at 69.8%. As with hips, these numbers reflect older implants, so a knee replaced today may last longer still.

What makes a replacement last longer, or wear out sooner?

A replacement wears gradually over many years rather than failing suddenly. It tends to last longest when you keep to a healthy weight, stay active without repeated high-impact loading, and when the replacement was fitted accurately with a well-chosen, registry-proven implant. Surgical accuracy matters, which is why Mr Subramanian uses robotic assistance where it adds precision. Infection, a fall, or a replacement that was not well aligned can shorten its working life.

Does being younger or more active wear it out faster?

To an extent, yes. A replacement has a finite working life, and the more it is loaded over the years, the sooner it may eventually need attention. That is why younger and very active patients are counselled about the chance of a revision later in life, and why the timing of surgery and the choice of implant are discussed carefully. For most people the gain in pain-free movement far outweighs this, and the decision is always made together.

Can a hip or knee replacement be redone if it wears out?

Yes. When a replacement eventually loosens, wears or fails, it can be revised, an operation that replaces the worn implant. Revision hip and revision knee surgery is more complex than the first operation and benefits from a surgeon who performs it regularly. It is a particular interest of Mr Subramanian's practice, with more than 260 hip and knee revision procedures recorded on the National Joint Registry under his care.

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