Common Hip Replacement Complications
As with any other surgery hip replacement surgery too has its own set of complications and things that can go wrong. However the rate of serious complications is relatively low and less than 2 % of patients report major problems.
The chance of complications occurring increases if you are suffering from a chronic disease. Such diseases not only slow down the process of recovery but are also capable of damaging the artificial hip and causing it to dislocate.
One of the common complaints immediately after hip replacement is the formation of blood clots in the veins of the calf and foot of the affected leg. There is a danger that these clots may enter the blood stream and lodge themselves in one of the vital organs with serious consequences. However your surgeon will anticipate this and take steps to ensure that clots do not occur. Special support hose and inflatable leg coverings may be used after surgery. In addition you will also receive injections of blood thinners and be encouraged to exercise to keep the blood circulation going.
With time there is a tendency for the artificial hip to loosen. Wear and tear is a natural process and the hip too experiences its fair share. If the loosening is affecting the patient adversely and causing pain and discomfort a revision surgery may be performed. During this procedure the old artificial hip joint is replaced with a new one. However, The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimates that revision surgery is needed only in about 10 % of patients.
A more frequently seen complication is hip dislocation. The artificial ball and socket which replaces the original joint are usually smaller in size. Thus there is a tendency for the ball to slip out if the hip is put in certain positions. This is one of the reasons that patients are advised to be very cautious with movements after surgery. Actions like crossing the knees or pulling the knees to the chest can lead the hip to dislocate.
Over time little particles gradually wear off from the surface of the hip. These particles are usually absorbed by the tissues around the hip. Sometimes, however, the particles may cause an inflammatory reaction, which eats into the bone and causes the hip to loosen. If detected in time the inflammation can be treated with medication. In extreme cases a revision surgery may become necessary.
There may be a tendency for your legs to become uneven in length after surgery. This increase in length of the affected leg is usually very slight and rarely bothersome. If necessary the problem can be rectified with corrective shoes.
Some of the less common complications are post operative infections, injuries to the sciatic nerve, fractures and the risk of bone growth around the implants. However these are not seen very often.
With advance in technology and development of new techniques the complications associated with hip replacement have reduced considerably. Hip replacement implants are continually being improved so as to make them more durable and resistant to inflammation.
