Close to 200,000 hip exchange surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Over 90% are successful with no hip exchange complications while or after surgery. But as with all surgeries, the risk of complications is always a possibility. However, complications are infrequent and often reversible.
The older the person is the higher the risk of complications. A person over 80 years old has a 20% opening of developing at least one complication after hip exchange surgery.
Hip exchange complications while surgery
Nerve damage
The sciatic nerve is at risk of being accidentally surgically cut due to its close nearnessy to the capsule of the hip joint. This same nerve may also come to be over-stretched while hip manipulation while surgery.
Depending on the extent of the nerve damage, temporary or permanent damage may result. There may be loss of muscle power and feeling in parts of the leg. It may take up to 6 months or more for recovery. Most patients have some paralysis around their incision site which may be permanent.
Vascular damage
The damage involves direct trauma to the blood vessels in the area of the surgery. The damaged blood vessel can be repaired by a vascular surgeon if it is caught in time.
Femur fracture
Force is applied while the surgical procedure. This can corollary in a femoral shaft fracture, especially in older or osteoporotic patients. Again, the problem is addressed while surgery, but may lead to extended rehabilitation. The surgeon may place weight bearing restrictions while you are walking.
Leg length discrepancy
In some cases, it may be difficult to get the exact same leg lengths. The corollary is commonly a longer leg on the surgical hip. It may be positive and deliberate in order to heighten muscle function or stabilize the hip. If there is more than a quarter of an inch difference, a shoe lift may be necessary.
In some patients, both legs are the exact same length but they think their surgery leg "feels" longer. In most cases this "feeling" goes away as the sick person adjusts to their new hip.
Rarely does shortening of the leg occur. If the leg is significantly shortened after surgery, it may have dislocated.
Anesthetic complications
Complications can occur, and in rare cases even death. Your anesthesiologist will illustrate the risks complex prior to your surgery.
Hip exchange complications after surgery
Blood clots (Dvt-deep vein thrombosis)
This is one of the most base complications after hip replacement. The most base area is in the calf. Increased leg pain is commonly the most positive symptom. Redness around the area of the clots may also occur. It's a minor problem if the clots stay in the leg. But if they dislodge, they can reach the lungs (pulmonary embolism) and can maybe corollary in death (very rarely).
If your surgeon suspects blood clots, he will immediately order an ultrasound to confirm or rule out clots. Most surgeons will order bed rest until the test results come back positive or negative for blood clots. He will prescribe a blood thinner. Compression boots and ankle/leg exercises help sacrifice the opening of blood clots.
Infection
Infection can occur while surgery or found afterwards. It is one of the most serious risks to the joint replacement. If the infection settles deep into the joint and surrounding tissues, the new joint often has to be removed until the infection clears with treatment. If the sick person develops an infection elsewhere in the body (bladder, teeth, chest), it must be controlled to preclude the possibility of it spreading through the blood to the new joint.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes, or have been taking cortisone for a long time, you are more prone to infection in the weeks following your surgery.
Infection can occur many years after the surgery. Bacteria can tour through the bloodstream from an infection in other parts of your body (bladder infection, infected wound, kidney infection). Oral antibiotics may need to be taken before and after disposition dental work years after your hip exchange operation.
Hip dislocation
The first six weeks after hip exchange is the most vulnerable time for your new hip. while this period, muscle tension is the only thing holding the metal ball in the socket. If the metal ball slips out of the socket, it's dislocated. As the hip muscles acquire their drive and scar tissue forms around the ball, the risk of hip dislocation diminishes.
Traditional hip exchange requires that positive precautions be taken and some positions/movements are restricted, at least for the first 6 weeks. Your surgeon and corporeal therapist will instruct you in your hip precautions. Basically, the precautions are:
- do not turn your toes inward
- do not cross you legs
- do not bend your hip more than 60-90 degrees (when sitting, your knee should not be level with your hip, it should be lower)
If dislocation occurs, call an ambulance to get you to the hospital. Your surgeon will pop the hip back into place. If it happens frequently, a hip brace worn for any months will preclude further dislocations. Hip exchange using the anterior advent eliminates the need for hip precautions or restrictions of positions/movements.
Those citizen who are overweight or have weak muscles are more prone to dislocation. Avoid heavy practice that puts too much stress on your new hip (running, playing basketball, tennis, heavy lifting). Instead, participate in activities such as walking, swimming, stationary bike.
Trochanteric problems
Your greater trochanter, a large boney part of your femur, is placed below and to the surface of the ball of your hip joint. Many of your large hip muscles anchor on the trochanter, so it's principal for general hip function.
During lateral advent surgery, the trochanter is detached to passage the hip joint. It's then reattached. If the trochanter does not heal back on the femur bone, it remains as a separate piece. This may corollary in pain, weakness, and loss of hip function.
Bowel complications
Constipation often occurs for the first week or so after surgery. This can be caused by medication, immobility, loss of appetite, not drinking enough fluids. Stool softeners or enemas may be needed.
Urinary problems
A catheter may be inserted while surgery. Your physician will order its discharge as soon as is practical, as catheters pose an increased risk of urinary infection.
Hematoma formation
During surgery, the main areas of bleeding are controlled by cauterization. But some oozing of blood and fluids still occurs, so a drain is attached from the wound to the surface of the body. If the drain does not work as planned, a collection of blood and fluids forms in the hip area. This can cause pain, pressure, and possible infection. Your surgeon may take you back to surgery to drain the hematoma.
Loosening of the prosthesis
The harder your bones are, the longer your hip exchange will last. Hard bones originate a stronger bond. citizen with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis are more at risk.
Running and heavy impact activities can also loosen the bond of the implant. Keep your weight down, as this will put more stress on the hip joint. Every pound you gain adds three pounds of force on your hip.
Choose a surgeon who has performed many hip replacements. Talk to some of his old patients to see how they are doing after their hip replacement. Not all surgeons are alike. I have seen a few hip revisions that were principal only because the initial hip exchange was done poorly by the primary surgeon.
Pressure sores
In the immediate days after your hip replacement, you may be spending quite a bit more time in bed. Spending a long period of time in one position can lead to pressure sores. Your heels, especially on your surgery leg, are very susceptible. A pillow or towel roll under your calves will float your heels and ease pressure. The elderly are especially prone to pressure sores because their skin is softer and they do not move around as well. A close eye should be kept on their heels and tailbone area, and should be commonly repositioned in bed with pillows.
Blood transfusion complications
All blood intended for use in transfusions is screened for Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, syphilis, Human T Cell Leukemia virus, and the Aids virus. But infections still occur. Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction occurs due to disagreement with the donors blood type. The most base cause of Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction is clerical error (mislabelled specimen or improperly identifying the sick person receiving the blood).
If you plan to use your own blood for possible transfusion, let your physician know ahead of time so arrangements can be made. Your blood can only be stored for 35 days. collection should begin at least 10-14 days before your surgery. The final collection occurs not later than 5 working days before the surgery date. Your blood will be screened as well.
About hip correction surgery
Most citizen who endure hip exchange surgery will never need to replace their synthetic joint. But because more and more citizen are having hip replacements at a younger age, the wearing away of the joint surface can originate problems. After 15-20 years of wear and tear, exchange (revision surgery) of the synthetic joint is becoming more common. correction surgery does not have as good an outcome as the initial surgery.
Consider all the hip exchange complications before you decree on surgery. This is not a unblemished list of risks, as there may be some rare complications not mentioned here.
Bladder Lift Surgery:Hip exchange Complications