According to MayoClinic.com, hip replacement surgery, or total hip arthroplasty, involves removing a diseased hip joint and replacing it with a prosthetic, or artificial, joint. The implanted joint consists of high-grade metals and plastics that are designed to resist corrosion, degradation and wear. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) states that complications occur in less than two percent of patients who undergo hip replacement surgery. However, complications are possible, and a patient should know what to do if she experiences them.
Infection
The AAOS states that an infection can occur after hip replacement surgery. An infection occurs because bacteria from the skin, surgical tools or surrounding surgical field can enter the wound site. Bacteria multiply and can extend further into the hip joint or spread to the entire body. Thus, a patient should be aware of the initial signs of infection, which include redness, warmth, excessive pain and drainage from the wound site. Furthermore, a patient should be aware of the signs that bacteria has spread from the wound site to other parts of the body, which include fever, chills or night sweats. A patient should not hesitate to seek immediate medical treatment if he experiences any of these signs of infection.
Blood Clots
Blood clots in the leg veins or pelvis are the most common complication of hip replacement surgery, states the AAOS. In most cases, a surgeon will prescribe a medication that will thin the patient's blood and prevent blood clots before surgery. In addition, he may prescribe support hoses, inflatable leg coverings, ankle pump exercises or additional blood thinner to prevent a blood clot from causing complications after surgery, states the AAOS. An untreated blood clot can cause swelling, excessive pain, tenderness and redness in the leg or pelvis. If the blood clot dislodges, it can travel through the blood stream and into the lungs. This complication, called a pulmonary embolism, can cause difficulty breathing, or in severe cases, death. Thus, a patient should immediately let his doctor know if he is experiencing symptoms of a blood clot.
Chronic Pain
According to the AAOS, some patients may experience chronic pain after hip replacement surgery. This occurs because tissue damaged during surgery can become stiff and make moving difficult and painful. Furthermore, sensory nerves underneath the skin or in the hip may be permanently damaged, which may lead to chronic pain. A patient can follow the surgeon's rehabilitation program and perform physical therapy exercises as recommended to make sure the hip muscles regain their strength and flexibility after surgery. A patient should not hesitate to let his surgeon know that he is experiencing chronic pain after hip replacement surgery.
