There is a risk of complications with all surgeries. Understanding these risks and how they apply to you should be part of deciding whether to have surgery.
Some of these risks may be prevented, or perhaps made less likely, with proper care and planning before surgery. Talk with your doctor long before your surgery about what you can do to prevent problems from happening.
Choose a doctor and hospital that provides high quality care can help lower the risk of complications.
It is normal to lose blood during hip replacement surgery. Some people need to have a blood transfusion during surgery or during recovery in the hospital. You are less likely to need a transfusion if you are not anemic before surgery.
Much of the bleeding comes from the raw surface of the bone that has been cut.
A bruise (hematoma) occurs when blood collects around the new hip joint or underneath the skin after surgery.
Your blood is more likely to clot during and soon after hip replacement surgery.
Sitting or lying for long periods of time during and after surgery will make your blood move more slowly through your body. This increases your risk of a blood clot.
Two types of blood clots are:
Your doctor and nurses can do a number of things to lower the risk for blood clots.
These are some problems that may occur after your hip replacement surgery:
The muscles and other soft tissues right around your hip may harden and become bone-like (called heterotopic ossification). This problem may cause a stiff hip joint.
Hip replacement surgery relieves the pain and stiffness of arthritis for most people. Some people may still notice symptoms. It is rare that surgery does not provide a good amount of relief.
Because bone is cut away and a new hip implant is inserted, your leg may be longer or shorter than the other one. This difference is usually about one-fourth of an inch and rarely causes any problems or symptoms. For bigger differences, you may need a heel lift for balance.
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