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I was born with hip dysplasia. I've had five operations to keep the hip from dislocating. It worked pretty well until I reached my 40s. Now I'm starting to have hip problems again with frequent dislocations. Would a hip replacement be a good idea now?

Hip joint reconstruction can be a complex treatment for patients with developmental hip dysplasia. For someone with hip dysplasia, the acetabulum or socket is usually the problem. A shallow socket often leads to partial or total dislocation.

In young children, the surgeon tries to shape the socket to prevent dislocation. Now as an adult, part or all of the joint can be replaced. You may be a good candidate for an acetabular implant. Partial hip replacement of this type is called a hemiarthroplasty.

The surgeon will remove the socket and press-fit into the space a hemisphere-shaped cup. It's made of a porous material to allow bone to grow in and around the implant. This helps lock and hold it in place. With a proper shaped socket in place, the head of the femur will stay in place. Further dislocations can be prevented.

Long-term results of cementless acetabular components in patients with severe developmental dysplasia have been tracked. Most patients have excellent results the first 15 years after getting the new socket. After 15 years, the number of patients who have problems goes up.

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