Hip ComplicationsLoosening One long-term complication is loosening. There are now excellent long term reports on this hip replacement that show that over 10 years the loosening rates are very low with 98% of prostheses still functioning well at 10 years. Dislocation Dislocation of the prosthesis can occur early. In follow-up analysis done by members of our medical panel the risk appears to be 2%. Infection Infection is a serious complication of joint replacement. Fortunately it happens rarely. In surgery carried out by members of our medical panel it appears to be occurring in approximately 1% of patients. Deep vein thrombosis Deep vein thrombosis has been a common problem in hip replacements over the years. The use of graduated calf compressors has dramatically reduced the incidence of DVT. Using these alone will bring it down to a level of 4%. Some surgeoans add Aspirin as a a prevenative measure which may reduces this figure further. This means that the further complication of pulmonary embolus is rare. Leg length discrepancy There is often a change in leg length when a hip replacement is carried out because the arthritic hip has often shortened over the years. It is therefore frequently noticed that the leg is lengthened following the surgery but it is usually lengthened to achieve the normal situation once more. It is uncommon that the leg is lengthened to produce a long-term problem. In surgery carried out by members of our medical panel the incidence is under 3%. Sciatic nerve palsy Some surgeons operate on patients through a posterior approach and the sciatic nerve is at risk with such surgery but sciatic nerve damage is rare. It is estimated that it occurs in 1 in 1,000 cases. General Anaesthetic Your anaesthetist will discuss with you the type of anaesthetic to be used and the problems encountered. However, there is always some risk in having a general anaesthetic. |
