How long do hip and knee replacements last?

What large studies show

Two large reviews published in the Lancet in 2019 pooled national joint registry data for hundreds of thousands of patients with more than 15 years of follow-up.

• Hip replacements: about 58 in 100 were still working 25 years after surgery.
• Total knee replacements: about 82 in 100 were still working 25 years after surgery.
• Partial knee replacements: about 70 in 100 were still working 25 years after surgery.

These figures include implants that are no longer used, so modern joint replacements may do better.

The implants I use

I use implants with some of the best results and longest track records in the UK National Joint Registry. For these implants, the Registry shows that:

Operation	Lasting more than 15 years
Hip replacement	95 in 100
Total knee replacement	95 in 100
Partial knee replacement	91 in 100

See my outcomes and reviews.

What affects how long a joint replacement lasts

• Age: younger people are more active and live longer with their joint, so they are more likely to need further surgery at some point.
• Activity: walking, swimming, cycling and golf are encouraged. High-impact sports such as running put more strain on the joint.
• Weight: being overweight increases the load on the joint replacement, so keeping to a healthy weight helps it last.
• Bone strength: bones can weaken with age, for example from osteoporosis. A fall can then cause a fracture around the joint replacement, which sometimes needs revision surgery. Treating osteoporosis and reducing the risk of falls both help.
• Infection: uncommon, but it can affect a joint replacement at any time, so get any infection elsewhere in the body treated promptly.
• The implant and how it is positioned: this is why I use implants with proven long-term results.

Signs that a joint replacement may need checking

New or worsening pain, swelling, a feeling of instability, or clicking and grinding can be signs of wear or loosening. If you notice these, see painful or worn joint replacements. Not every problem needs further surgery, and when it does, I perform revision hip and revision knee replacement.

Written and reviewed by Mr Krishna Boddu FRCS (Tr & Orth), consultant orthopaedic surgeon, GMC 5206961. Last reviewed: 3 November 2026.

Sources

• Evans JT et al. How long does a hip replacement last? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case series and national registry reports with more than 15 years of follow-up. Lancet 2019;393:647–54.
• Evans JT et al. How long does a knee replacement last? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case series and national registry reports with more than 15 years of follow-up. Lancet 2019;393:655–63.
• National Joint Registry annual reports: implant survival
• Gill JR, Nicolai P. Clinical results and 12-year survivorship of the Physica ZUK unicompartmental knee replacement. Knee 2019;26:750–8.