Dual Mobility (Tripolar) Hip Replacement: Cost & Who Needs It

A tripolar hip replacement — technically a “dual mobility” total hip — is designed specifically to reduce the risk of the artificial hip dislocating. A large mobile liner moves between the head and the metal socket, making the effective head bigger and harder to dislodge. It is chosen for patients at higher risk of dislocation and costs 150,000–180,000 EGP in Egypt.

To compare all implant types in one place, read types of hip replacement.

What the implant looks like

A metal cup fixed in the socket, with a highly polished inner surface.
A large polyethylene liner that moves freely inside the metal cup (first articulation).
A small head on the femoral stem, captured inside the liner and moving within it (second articulation).
With the stem there are three moving components — hence the common name “tripolar”.
The result is a large effective diameter and a longer distance the head must travel before it can dislocate.

Hip replacement implant components in theatre, including dual mobility components — Implant components in the operating theatre

Indications: who is it for?

Older adults needing a total hip after a femoral neck fracture.
Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke that weaken muscle control.
Cognitive impairment or dementia, where following safe-position advice is difficult.
Recurrent dislocation of a previous hip replacement (revision surgery).
Weak or torn abductor muscles around the hip.
Stiff or fused lower spine that changes pelvic movement.
Alcohol misuse or frequent falls.

How does the surgeon choose the right implant for you?

Age and expected activity: a young active person needs an implant that lasts longer; an older person needs a safer, shorter operation.
Bone quality: osteoporosis favours cemented fixation; good bone allows cementless fixation.
The socket: healthy cartilage allows a hemiarthroplasty for fractures; a worn socket needs a total hip.
Dislocation risk: neurological disease, weak muscles and revisions favour dual mobility.
A previous implant or bone loss: may require a long stem and special planning.
General health: heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease affect the right length of operation and type of anaesthesia.

dual mobility total hip replacement vs a standard total hip replacement

	Dual mobility (tripolar)	Standard total hip
Articulating surfaces	Two (liner in cup, head in liner)	One (head in liner)
Dislocation risk	Very low	Higher, especially in high-risk groups
Usually suits	Patients at higher risk of dislocation	Most arthritis patients
Specific complication	Intraprosthetic dissociation (rare)	—
Approximate cost	150,000–180,000 EGP	100,000–120,000 EGP

Table: dual mobility total hip replacement compared with a standard total hip replacement.

Systematic reviews show very low dislocation rates with dual mobility in both primary and revision surgery, and studies of femoral neck fractures found fewer dislocations than with a conventional cup. It costs more and has a rare specific complication, so it is used for patients who need extra protection against dislocation rather than for everyone.

Video: What an artificial hip joint looks like (Arabic)

Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Shaarawi — What an artificial hip joint looks like (Arabic).

Surgical steps

Pre-operative assessment of dislocation risk (age, neurological disease, muscle function, spine).
Spinal or general anaesthesia with a nerve block.
Approach to the joint and removal of the damaged femoral head.
Preparation of the socket and fixation of the metal cup (usually cementless, cemented in selected cases).
Preparation of the femoral canal and fixation of the stem to suit bone quality.
Fitting the small head into the large liner, placing them in the cup and testing stability and motion.
Closure, and walking with a frame within one to two days.

X-ray of a total hip replacement — X-ray after total hip replacement — Image: Mikael Häggström, M.D. / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Cost in Egypt

Implant	Approximate price
Total hip (conventional)	100,000–120,000 EGP
Bipolar hemiarthroplasty	80,000–90,000 EGP
Dual mobility (tripolar) hip	150,000–180,000 EGP
Ceramic hip	195,000–240,000 EGP
Revision surgery / long stem	Confirmed after assessment

Table: Hip replacement prices by implant type (EGP).

The price usually covers the implant, the operation and a short hospital stay, and varies with the implant, the hospital and your general health; the final price is confirmed after examination and X-rays. An implant should not be chosen on price alone — the right one is what suits your age, activity and bone quality. See also: hip replacement cost in Egypt.

Complications and how we reduce them

Complication	What it is	How we reduce it
Intraprosthetic dissociation	A rare specific complication needing surgery	Correct component choice and precise assembly
Liner wear	Over the long term	Highly cross-linked polyethylene liners
Dislocation	Rare compared with a standard hip	The design itself plus safe positions
Infection and clots	As with any hip replacement	Preventive antibiotics and blood thinners
Periprosthetic fracture	Usually after a fall	Fall prevention and osteoporosis treatment

Table: Main complications of dual mobility total hip replacement.

For all complications of the operation in detail, read hip replacement complications.

Instructions after surgery

Walking with a frame from day one or two as advised.
Even with a low dislocation risk, follow the safe positions your surgeon sets for the early weeks.
A high chair and a raised toilet seat.
Sleep on your back or the non-operated side with a pillow between the knees.
Continue blood thinners and daily exercises.
Fall prevention and osteoporosis treatment in older adults.
Regular X-ray follow-up.

Details on sleeping, sitting and using the bathroom are in sleeping and sitting after hip replacement, and the recovery stages in hip replacement recovery time.

How long does the implant last?

A large Lancet analysis of worldwide joint registries found that about three quarters of hip replacements are still working after 15–20 years and about 58% after 25 years. Implant survival depends on the patient’s age, activity and weight, the bearing surfaces and fixation, and the precision of component positioning. Keeping a healthy weight, avoiding high-impact sport, treating any infection in the body promptly and attending regular X-ray follow-up all help the implant last as long as possible, and pick up loosening early, before it causes bone loss.

Frequently asked questions about dual mobility total hip replacement

What is a tripolar hip replacement?

A dual mobility total hip, with a large liner moving inside a metal cup and a small head moving inside the liner, which lowers dislocation risk.

How much does a tripolar hip replacement cost?

It costs 150,000–180,000 EGP; the final price is confirmed after assessment.

Who needs a dual mobility hip?

Patients at higher risk of dislocation: older adults after fractures, neurological disease, cognitive impairment, recurrent dislocation of a previous hip, and weak hip muscles.

How is it different from a standard hip replacement?

A standard hip has one articulation; dual mobility has two and a larger effective diameter, so dislocation is much less common, though it costs more.

Can a dual mobility hip dislocate?

Dislocation is very rare compared with a standard hip, but there is a rare specific complication — dissociation of the head inside the liner.

To have your hip assessed, book a consultation, call +20 155 240 4488 or message us on WhatsApp at +20 155 554 7181.

Medically reviewed by Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Shaarawi, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. This article is general medical education and does not replace an examination or the plan your surgeon sets for you. See our medical disclaimer.

Related hip replacement guides

Dual mobility total hip replacement is one of the types of hip replacement. Read also:

Dual Mobility (Tripolar) Hip Replacement: Cost, Who It Is For, Complications and Comparison With a Standard Total Hip