Introduction: Revision hip surgery with impaction allografting is an attractive operation because of its potential to restore lost bone stock. Several authors have reported variable results, some disastrous, with massive subsidence of the stem.

Aim: To study the radiographic and clinical results of impaction allografting for revision hip surgery done in our department.

Materials and methods: 49 patients (50 hips) underwent revision hip surgery using the impaction allografting technique and the Exeter stem between the years 1993 to 1997. The average follow up was 6 years (range 4 – 9 years).

Results: There were 7 dislocations. One patient had early painful subsidence of the stem requiring revision. 44 (90%) hips had subsidence of stem equal to or less than 5 mm at last follow up. 5 (10%) had subsidence ranging from 6 to 7 mm. Hip function was uniformly good and patients were extremely satisfied.

Conclusion: Revision hip surgery with impaction allografting is an effective operation. With meticulous attention to this technique, revision hip surgery need not necessarily be associated with inferior outcomes compared to primary hip surgery.