Possible Complications After Hip Replacement Surgery

Hip replacement surgery, also called hip arthroplasty, is a procedure wherein damaged parts of the hip joint is removed and replaced with artificial, man-made parts. The hip joint is a large joint joining the upper end of the thigh bone and the hip bone. The artificial parts used to replace the joint are called the prosthesis.

Hip replacement is a fairly common procedure. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), there are more than 193,000 total hip replacement surgeries each year in the United States.

Hip replacement is commonly done in people who have severely damaged hip joint that results from trauma or injury, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Also, the procedure may be recommended for people who have osteonecrosis, which occurs when the bone dies because of inadequate blood supply, and people with bone tumors.

The procedure is recommended by the doctor when alternative therapies or methods of treatment, such as medications, exercise, and assistive devices fail.

In the past, hip replacement surgeries were recommended usually in people over the age of 60. Now, the procedure may be recommended even in younger people because newer artificial joints have been improved. These artificial parts have been made to be sturdier, which allow them to withstand more stress and strain. Also, they are now made to last longer.

While hip replacement surgery can be done successfully, some people who have undergone hip replacement may experience some complications.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the most common complication that may occur soon after the surgery is hip dislocation. Because the artificial parts are smaller than the original hip joint, the connection can become dislodged. This can occur when the hip joint is bent beyond 90 degrees such as that occurs when the knees are pulled up to the chest.

Another very common complication after surgery is the formation of blood clots in the veins of the leg, according to the AAOS. When a blood clot forms in the leg vein, the condition is called deep vein thrombosis or DVT. To prevent clots from forming, the doctor may prescribe medications called anticoagulants, leg coverings that can be inflated, or ankle pumping exercises.

Sometimes, tiny particles wear off of the man-made joint surface, which can trigger an inflammatory reaction. The inflammation may trigger special cells that eat away some of the bone to become activated, which can cause the joint to loosen. To manage this, the surgeon may recommend anti-inflammatory drugs or recommend replacing the artificial joint, a procedure called revision surgery.

Other less possible complications of hip replacement surgery may include infection and bleeding.

The complications discussed here have greatly declined over the years because of newer technologies and modern surgical techniques.

References:

Questions and Answers about Hip Replacement. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).

After Joint Replacement Surgery Problems. Nasugnam Health-Division of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases.

Total Hip Replacement. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Deep Vein Thrombosis. National Library of Medicine.