Short answer
Most last a long time. Pooled registry data suggest that about 82% of total knee replacements and about 58% of hip replacements are still in place 25 years after surgery, with around 89% of hips lasting at least 15 years.12 These are averages from implants used decades ago. The biggest single factor for an individual is age at surgery: younger, more active people are much more likely to need a second operation (revision) in their lifetime.3
Key points
- Total knee replacements: about 82% still in place at 25 years in registry data.
- Partial knee replacements: about 70% at 25 years.
- Hip replacements: about 89% at 15 years and 58% at 25 years in registry data.
- Lifetime revision risk is about 5% if surgery is after 70, but up to 35% for men in their early fifties.
- Loosening, wear, infection, instability and fracture are the main reasons implants fail.
What the long-term figures show
The best estimates come from two 2019 systematic reviews in The Lancet that pooled national joint registries and case series with more than 15 years of follow-up. “Survival” here means the implant has not needed revision, not that the joint is free of symptoms.
| Implant | 15 years | 20 years | 25 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total knee replacement | Not given in the review summary | Not given in the review summary | About 82% |
| Partial knee replacement | Not given in the review summary | Not given in the review summary | About 70% |
| Hip replacement | About 89% | About 70% | About 58% |
For knees, data from 14 registries covering nearly 300,000 total knee replacements gave a 25-year survival of 82.3%. For partial (unicompartmental) knee replacements it was 69.8%.1 The NHS gives a simple figure for patients: knee replacements last about 25 years.4
For hips, registry data from Australia and Finland covering over 215,000 operations showed 89.4% still in place at 15 years, 70.2% at 20 years and 57.9% at 25 years.2 The 20- and 25-year figures came from the Finnish registry alone. Case series gave higher figures, but the authors judged registries more reliable because case series are prone to selection bias.2
Why these numbers are only a guide
Twenty-five-year figures describe implants put in a quarter of a century ago. The hip review noted that the data are historical, that many components studied are no longer used in the UK, and that UK registry data were not included, so applicability to current practice is unclear.2 Modern implants may do better or differently; long-term data will take years to arrive.
Survival figures also count only revisions. Someone who has persistent pain but does not have further surgery counts as a “success” in these statistics. The overall strength of the evidence on average implant lifespan is Moderate: the registries are very large, but the longest follow-up comes from few countries and older designs.
What affects how long a replacement lasts
Age at surgery. A large UK population study found that the lifetime risk of revision after hip or knee replacement was about 5% for people operated on after the age of 70. It rose steadily in younger people, reaching up to 35% for men in their early fifties.3 Women had about a 15% lower risk than men of the same age, and for people under 60 the median time to revision was 4.4 years among those revised.3
Type of implant. Partial knee replacements are revised more often than total ones, as the registry figures above show.1 The reasons and trade-offs are covered in partial vs total knee replacement.
Activity and weight. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) lists wear of the plastic spacer, high-impact activity and excess body weight as possible contributors to loosening.5
Why replacements fail, and what revision involves
The AAOS describes the main reasons a knee replacement fails as loosening of the implant from the bone, wear, infection (which can occur early or years later), instability from unbalanced ligaments, fracture around the implant (usually after a fall) and stiffness.5 Signs include pain, swelling, stiffness, instability or a feeling that the knee is giving way.5
Revision surgery aims, like the first operation, to relieve pain and improve function. It is a longer, more complex procedure, may need specialised implants and bone grafts to rebuild lost bone, and carries a higher risk of complications, including a slightly higher infection risk.5
When to seek medical advice
New or increasing pain, swelling, instability or stiffness in a replaced joint, even years later, should be assessed.5 The NHS advises urgent help from a GP or NHS 111 for a high temperature, feeling hot, cold or shivery, pus from the wound, or knee redness, swelling or pain that is getting worse, as these can signal infection.4
Common questions
Will I need another replacement in my lifetime?
Probably not if you are over 70 at the time of surgery, when the lifetime revision risk is about 5%. The risk is considerably higher for people in their fifties.3
Should I delay surgery so the implant lasts my lifetime?
Not necessarily. Delaying reduces lifetime revision risk but means living longer with arthritis pain and limited mobility. This is a personal trade-off to discuss with a surgeon, based on how much symptoms affect daily life.
Do robotic or newer implants last longer?
That is not yet known, because 20- to 25-year data do not exist for recent designs or techniques. See whether robotic knee replacement is better.
Can a worn joint replacement be replaced?
Yes, by revision surgery, though it is more complex than the first operation and carries higher risks.5
Bottom line
For most people, a knee or hip replacement lasts well beyond 15 years, and many last 25 years or more. Age at surgery matters most: older patients rarely need a revision, while younger ones face a real chance of a second operation. Persistent or new symptoms in a replaced joint deserve review rather than waiting.
Related reading
- Knee replacement: what it involves, risks and recovery
- Partial vs Total Knee Replacement: What Is the Difference?
- What Is Hip Resurfacing?
- What Is the Recovery Timeline After Knee Replacement?
- What Does Shoulder Replacement Involve?
Sources
- Evans JT, Walker R, Evans JP, Blom A, Sayers A, Whitehouse M. 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. The Lancet; 2019;393(10172):655–663. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32531-5
- Evans JT, Evans JP, Walker R, 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. The Lancet; 2019;393:647–654. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31665-9 (summary via NIHR Evidence: https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/more-than-50-of-hip-replacements-appear-to-last-25-years/ Accessed 5 November 2026.)
- Bayliss LE, Culliford D, Monk AP, et al. The effect of patient age at intervention on risk of implant revision after total replacement of the hip or knee: a population-based cohort study. The Lancet; 2017;389(10077):1424–1430. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30059-4
- NHS. Knee replacement: complications. NHS website. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/knee-replacement/complications/ Accessed 5 November 2026.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Revision total knee replacement. OrthoInfo. https://www.orthoinfo.org/treatment/revision-total-knee-replacement Accessed 5 November 2026.
Article history
- — First published.