Hip arthroplasty or hip replacement surgery involves removing a diseased hip joint and replacing it with an artificial joint or prosthesis, according to MayoClinic.com. Hip prostheses consist of a metal or ceramic ball that sits in a plastic, ceramic or metal socket. The prosthetic implants are usually resistant to corrosion, degradation and wear and tear, but complications may arise shortly after surgery or years later. Hip arthroplasty can relieve pain and restore the hip joint to its previous range of motion and function.
Dislocation
Dislocation is one complication of hip arthroplasty. Approximately 4 percent of patients experience dislocation following hip arthoplasty, according to Los Angeles’s The Hip and Knee Institute. During the first six weeks following surgery, the socket holds the ball in place with muscle tension. Dislocation occurs when the metal or ceramic ball slips out of its plastic socket. The hip is more likely to dislocate before scar tissue forms around the ball and before muscle strength returns. Various positions can cause the ball of a new joint to become dislodged, so it is especially important not to bend more than 90 degrees at the hip or cross one leg in front of the other at the midline of the body, notes the MayoClinic.com. A brace usually keeps the hip in the correct position, but in some cases surgery may be needed to stabilize the hip.
Leg Length Changes
Following hip arthroplasty, a person may experience changes in leg length, observes the MayoClinic.com. Occasionally a new hip may make one leg longer or shorter than the other one. This usually occurs when the muscles surrounding the hip weaken, also increasing the risk of dislocation. Some people find that strengthening and stretching weak muscles can make the hip more stable, while others find that wearing a lift in one shoe helps balance out the length of the legs.
Joint Stiffening
Sometimes the soft tissue around the joint hardens or ossifies, making it difficult to move the hip following hip arthroplasty. While the main goal of hip arthroplasty is to reduce pain and improve function, it is possible that in some cases the hip will not return to its previous level of functioning. People who do not receive a cement implant during hip arthoplasty may experience mild pain in their mid-thigh for 18 to 24 months after the surgery, according to Los Angeles’s The Hip and Knee Institute. In addition, people who have a history of severe deterioration in the hip joint prior to surgery may develop joint stiffness following the procedure. In rare cases, extra bone may form around the new hip joint causing stiffness, according to Advanced Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists. Joint stiffness can be treated with medication or radiation therapy.
Wear and Tear
Wear and tear is a common complication associated with hip arthroplasty, reports Georgetown University Hospital. Hip arthroplasty implants are made of artificial materials that over time shift back and forth as a person moves around. This movement can eventually cause the implants to wear. Wear and tear occurs when a metal ball in the hip continuously moves against its plastic socket, causing friction. In addition, debris from the artificial implants can cause wear and tear when fluid surrounds the hip and causes the implants to loosen and repeatedly shift out of place.
References
- The Hip and Knee Institute: Complications of Hip Replacement Surgery
- MayoClinic.com: Hip Replacement
- UptoDate: Patient information: Total Hip Replacement (Arthroplasty)
- Advanced Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists: Revision Hip Replacement
- Georgetown University Hospital: Complications After Total Hip and Knee Replacement
