There is no clear value on what the success rate of secondary femoral head replacement is.
Femoral head replacement is mostly used for elderly patients over 65 years old with femoral neck fracture and femoral head necrosis, and the success rate is generally over 90%. Theoretically, the artificial joint can be used for about 20 years. The age estimate for the second femoral head replacement is over 80 or 90 years old, when the patient’s body tolerance, physical quality and immunity are low, and the success rate of replacement is not very high.
After the first bone replacement, the acetabulum is prone to wear and tear and pain due to the long-term use of the artificial femoral head. The second replacement has the possibility of total hip replacement, which increases the difficulty of the operation. The increase in difficulty will lead to a longer operation time, more likely to cause infections, and less tolerated by the patient, further reducing the success rate.
Secondary femoral head replacement must be carefully evaluated before surgery to clarify the indications for surgery.