A hip replacement is a common surgery that is usually successful. But there can be some risks.
Loosening of the joint
The most common problem of a hip replacement is loosening of the joint. This happens in around 1 in 10 hip replacements.
This causes:
- pain
- a feeling that your joint is unstable
Loosening of the joint can happen because:
- the stem of your implant becomes loose in the hollow of your thigh bone
- the bone around your implant thins out
Loosening of the joint can happen at any time. But it usually happens 10 to 15 years after your hip replacement was done.
You may need another surgery to fix it. But not all patients can have this.
Wear and tear
All hip implants wear down over time. The ball and cup slide against each other during movements such as walking and running.
Particles can wear off your new joint over time. These can be absorbed by surrounding tissue and cause your joint to loosen.
If your surgeon notices wear or loosening to your joint on an x-ray, you may need regular x-rays.
Depending on how severe the problem is, you may need to have another surgery.
Metal-on-metal implants may wear out sooner than expected and cause complications.
Contact your GP if you have any concerns about your hip replacement.
Hip dislocation
Hip dislocation is when your hip joint comes out of its socket. This happens in around 3 in 100 hip replacements.
It is most likely to happen in the first few month after surgery when your hip is still healing.
You will need more surgery to put the joint back into place.
Joint stiffening
The soft tissues can harden around your implant. The stiffness can cause you to be less mobile.
This is not usually painful.
It can be prevented using:
- medicine
- radiation therapy - a quick and painless procedure that directs controlled doses of radiation at your hip joint
A longer or shorter leg
The leg that you had surgery on may be shorter or longer than the other leg.
You can adjust to this, but sometimes you'll need a raised shoe.
Other risks
Other risks of a hip replacement include:
- injuries to the blood vessels or nerves
- a fracture
Serious complications
Serious complications of a hip replacement are not common. They happen in less than 1 in 100 hip replacements.
Blood clots
There's a small risk of getting a blood clot in the first few weeks after surgery.
This could be either:
- deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in your leg
- pulmonary embolism in your lung
Symptoms of DVT include:
- swelling or pain in 1 leg or calf
- warmth or redness in a leg
Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include:
- shortness of breath or rapid breathing
- chest pain, which may be worse when you breathe in
- a cough or coughing up blood
- feeling dizzy
Urgent advice: Seek medical help immediately if:
- you think you have a blood clot
To lower your chance of getting blood clots, you may be:
- given blood-thinning medicine such as warfarin
- asked to wear compression stockings
- encouraged to move your legs - your nurse or physiotherapist will tell you what to do
Infection
Bacteria may get into the tissue around your artificial hip joint. This can cause an infection.
Urgent advice: Get medical help immediately if:
- you think you have an infection
Symptoms of an infection include:
- a high temperature (fever) of 38 degrees Celsius or above
- shaking and chills
- redness and swelling at the area you had surgery
- a discharge from the area you had surgery
- hip pain that lasts even when you're resting
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
