How long a hip replacement lasts
A common and fair question, and one Dr. Khoshbin studies. Here is what the evidence actually shows, including why newer data are more encouraging than the numbers you may have read.
Most last a very long time
The most widely quoted study, published in the Lancet in 2019, pooled large national registry data and found that about 58% of hip replacements were still working at 25 years. That figure is reassuring, but it comes with an important caveat: it includes older implant materials that are no longer used because they wore out faster.
A newer Lancet analysis, published in 2026, looked at modern implant materials and projected far better survival, on the order of 90% still working at 25 years. In other words, the hip replacements being done today are expected to last longer than the historical average suggests.
What these numbers do and do not mean
Population figures describe groups, not any one person. How long your hip replacement lasts depends on several things.
- Your age and activity. Younger, more active people place more demand on the joint over their lifetime, so they are a little more likely to need a revision eventually.
- The materials used. Modern bearing surfaces wear far more slowly than older ones, which is why newer data look better.
- How the implant is placed. Accurate positioning, which is what the templating and the live X-ray during surgery are for, helps an implant last.
- Your bone and general health. Bone quality and overall health play a part.
If a hip does wear out
When a hip replacement eventually loosens or wears, it can usually be revised with a second operation. Revision surgery is more involved than the first replacement, and it is one of the things Dr. Khoshbin specialises in. This is also why occasional long-term X-rays matter, since a worn hip is easier to revise before it causes damage.
- Evans JT, et al. How long does a hip replacement last? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2019;393:647-657. Registry pooled 25-year survival about 58%.
- Modern total hip replacement survivorship to 30 years: systematic review, meta-analysis, and extrapolation of global joint registry data. Lancet 2026. Projected 25-year survival about 90% with modern materials.
This page is general information, not a prediction for any individual. Your own outlook depends on your health, your implant, and your activity, and is best discussed with your surgeon.