YOUR IMPLANT INFORMATION
Having a hip replacement: your implant details
If you are having a hip replacement, ask the surgical team how to obtain the details of the components used in your operation. After surgery, keep the operation date, left or right hip, implant labels and hospital contacts together. If your replacement was some time ago, your hospital can help you request the original record.
Preparing for a new hip replacement
At your pre-assessment appointment, discuss your medicines, any other implants, your recovery plan and the help you may need at home. Follow the exercise and preparation advice from your own team. The NHS hip replacement preparation guide covers practical planning.
Add these questions to your appointment list:
- How will I receive a copy of the implant details after surgery?
- Will my discharge information include implant labels or component references?
- Who should I contact about recovery, follow-up or a problem with the hip?
- Will my operation be recorded in the National Joint Registry, and how is consent handled?
After surgery: ask for a component record
A useful personal record identifies the actual replacement and the operation it belongs to. Ask for:
- The operation date and whether it was your left or right hip.
- The hospital and the team responsible for follow-up.
- The manufacturer, product reference and size for each component shown in the surgical record.
- Any batch, lot, serial or device identifier supplied on the labels.
- A copy of the discharge summary and any implant card or labels made available to you.
Keep the original labels together. If the record lists separate components, preserve those entries rather than reducing everything to a single brand name. Leave missing numbers unknown; do not infer them from an X-ray or a similar-looking product online.
Already have a hip implant or need replacement records?
Start with the hospital where the hip was replaced. Ask the orthopaedic team or medical records service for the operation and implant information. Your GP’s correspondence may help identify the hospital and approximate date.
If you consented to your details being included in the National Joint Registry, you can also request the information it holds about your operation. Follow the NJR’s patient data request process. ImplantPassport does not automatically retrieve hospital or registry records.
After revision surgery or when another team needs your details
If you later have revision surgery, ask which components were removed, which remain and which were added. Keep the earlier operation in your history and identify the current components from the new surgical record.
Bring the information when a scan, another operation or travel-related assessment is being arranged. Your care team must make any treatment or MRI safety decision. An implant record does not replace that assessment or guarantee exemption from airport checks.
FAQ
How do I find out which hip implant I have?
Ask the hospital that performed the replacement for the operation record and implant labels or component details. If your information was recorded with your consent, you can also request your National Joint Registry data.
What should I ask for before leaving hospital after a hip replacement?
Ask how to obtain the implant details, confirm the operated side and date, and keep your discharge instructions and follow-up contact. The final record should describe the components actually used.
Do I need a separate record for each hip replacement?
Yes. Keep left and right hips separate, with the date and components for each operation. If a hip is revised, retain the earlier information as history and ask the surgical team what remains implanted.
YOUR NEXT STEP WITH IMPLANTPASSPORT
Keep your hip replacement details within reach
Use the details supplied by your hospital to create a readable record. Keep each hip and each operation clearly identified, with the original documents for reference.
Create my ID cardYour own digital record, with optional family and emergency sharing.
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