Benefits and Risks of Total Hip Replacement Surgery?

The greatest benefit of hip replacement for most patients is dramatic pain relief. The vast majority of patients have complete, or near complete, relief of pain, with studies indicating 80% and more of patients being completely pain free after the operation. Range of hip movement and mobility also improves moderately in most patients.

After surgery most patients are better able to perform certain activities of daily life, with some finding they can become completely independent, while others may continue requiring aids or help from others.

Patients who undergo hip replacement reduce the need for community medical resources such as home visits from general practitioners or district nurses and generally improve their own quality of life as well as that of their helpers.

Some patients find they need to continue taking antiarthritic drugs after surgery and older patients needed to spend longer in hospital after surgery because of complications.

Possible Complications

Complications of hip replacement surgery include the possibility of blood clots forming in the lower extremities that can travel to the lungs, creating pulmonary embolism. Severe cases of pulmonary embolism are rare but can cause respiratory failure and shock.

Other potential problems include difficulty with urination, local skin or joint infection, fracture of the bone during or after surgery, scarring and limitation of motion of the hip.

Loosening of the prosthesis is possible in time, which eventually leads to prosthesis failure and the necessity of additional surgery.

Because hip replacement requires anesthesia, the usual risks of anesthesia apply and include heart arrhythmias, liver toxicity, and pneumonia.