Loosening of the joint This is the most common complication of hip replacement and occurs when the shaft of the prosthesis becomes loose in the socket of the thigh bone or the bone surrounding the implant starts to thin. This can lead to pain and a sensation that the joint is unstable.
Among the most common for hip replacement patients is the risk of blood clots. These are often found in the legs (Deep Vein Thrombosis) or in the lungs (Pulmonary embolus). These risks are reduced significantly using precautions both in theatre and post-surgery.
If pain was present right from the outset, it may indicate infection or a periprosthetic fracture. Impingement or early failure of osseointegration may also cause pain to have been present right from the first day of surgery. A pain free interval followed by pain may indicate loosening or late infection.
The Don'ts
Don't lean forward while sitting or as you sit down. Don't try to pick up something on the floor while you are sitting. Don't turn your feet excessively inward or outward when you bend down. Don't reach down to pull up blankets when lying in bed.
An artificial hip is not identical to a healthy natural hip joint. It is much more prone to dislocation, as shown in the accompanying X-ray (Fig 8a). This happens because the artificial hip is lacking in certain structures that normally hold the head of the femur securely in the acetabulum.
Most patients have outstanding success following hip replacement. Your pain disappears after just one surgery, and movement returns to normal. The typical recovery after an anterior hip replacement takes 4-6 weeks.
Joint replacement surgery relieves the pain and stiffness of arthritis for most people. Some people may still have some symptoms of arthritis.
Remember you can't bend more than 90 degrees in those early days, so ensure everyday items are stored at waist height. It's also worth thinking about hiring a raised toilet seat and a shower chair. Setting up a recovery station is a great way to avoid unnecessarily getting up and down when you're trying to recover.
A total hip replacement is a major surgery. With walking and other physical therapy done daily, a patient can expect to be back in their usual routine in about six weeks. If you have more questions about recovering from total hip replacement surgery, contact Dr. Dan Albright at 919-863-6808.
As with any operation, hip replacement surgery has risks as well as benefits. Most people who have a hip replacement do not have serious complications. After having a hip replacement, contact your doctor if you get: hot, reddened, hard or painful areas in your leg in the first few weeks after your operation.
Your hip implant may wear out or loosen over time. It might also become damaged if you have an injury or dislocation. You may need a revision surgery to replace the damaged parts of the prosthesis.
Constipation is common after surgery, especially while you are taking pain medicine and your daily activity level is decreased. Signs of constipation include: fewer number of bowel movements. small, hard stools that are difficult to pass.
It is important to gradually increase your out-of-home activity during the first few weeks after surgery. If you do too much activity, your hip may become more swollen and painful.
Three Pros of Hip Replacement
The success rate for this surgery is excellent, with greater than 95% of patients experiencing hip pain relief. The success rate of hip replacements after ten years from surgery is 90-95%, and 80-85% after 20 years. Dr.
Normally, driving should be avoided for the first 6 weeks and even travelling as a passenger is best avoided for the first three weeks (except for essential journeys), as getting in and out of a car can risk straining the hip and stretching the healing tissues.
Hip replacement patients are given a long list of things not to do—do not bend the hips or knees further than 90 degrees, do not cross the legs, do not lift the leg to put on socks, and much more. These movement restrictions protect the new hip from dislocation.
You should also be able to dress yourself with only a little help and be able to get into and out of your bed or a chair by yourself. You should also be able to use the toilet without much help. You will need to be careful that you do not dislocate your artificial hip, especially in the first few months after surgery.
After hip replacement surgery, you will need a raised toilet seat on your toilet at home. This is to make sure that your knees are not higher than your hips when sitting. including the toilet seat. Your therapist will then tell you what size toilet seat you need.
Depending on your age and physical condition, you may also need to adopt some lifetime precautions after hip surgery, including: Avoid bending the hip too far: Older adults in particular should continue to avoid flexing the hip past 90 degrees or lifting the knee above hip level.
Where do you feel pain if you need a hip replacement? Many people suffer from hip discomfort around the thigh, buttock or groin area. This is often exacerbated by the common daily activities we talked about above.
ANSWER: Equalizing leg length in people who have hip replacement surgery can be tricky. Various methods are used to restore equal leg lengths, but they don't always work perfectly. While making leg lengths exactly equivalent after surgery is desirable, it is not always possible.