Less than 1 percent of all total hip replacements can be expected to become infected. The main benefit to the patient after total joint replacement is pain relief, which often is quite dramatic. Although there may be some soreness in the replaced joint after surgery, this will eventually disappear and muscle power will return with exercise. Motion of the joint will generally improve. The extent of improvement will depend on how stiff the joint was before the operation.
Most older persons can expect their total joint replacement to last a lifetime.
It will give years of pain-free living that would not have been possible otherwise. Some younger persons with a total joint replacement who are quite active may have to have a second total joint replacement. Materials and surgical techniques are improving rapidly, however, because of the efforts of orthopedists working with engineers and other scientists.