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A new type of hip replacement implant reduces the risk of joint dislocation after surgery by 70%, according to a new study involving 1,600 patients across 44 hospitals in Sweden and the UK, published in The Lancet. The new implant consists of a small ball encased in a much larger plastic ball, which provides better stability.

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Each year, more than 14 million patients worldwide suffer a femoral neck fracture. Total hip replacement (THR), in which both the ball and socket of the hip are replaced, is recommended for older, active individuals with a displaced fracture of the femoral neck. While the vast majority regain good mobility and quality of life, up to 8% of these patients experience a dislocation of their hip, a very painful condition in which the artificial joint slips out of place.

In a new study, researchers from Uppsala University and Queen Mary University of London investigated whether a new type of cup, referred to as a dual-mobility total hip replacement (DM THR), could reduce the risk of complications.

"It is extremely painful when a hip replacement dislocates. When it occurs, patients require sedation or further surgery to realign the joint. Once the joint has dislocated, this impairs quality of life, as the patient may feel that they can no longer really trust the implant. There is also a significant strain on health care resources," says Nils Hailer, consultant orthopedic surgeon at Uppsala University Hospital, professor of orthopedics, and one of the researchers behind the study.