What Health Complications Are Associated with Revision Hip Replacement Surgery?

Due to certain health conditions, some people require hip replacement surgeries. Artificial hip replacements are used to relieve hip pain, stiffness and immobility due to deterioration in the hip joint. The components of most hip replacements are made of a combination of metal, ceramic and polyethylene. Metal components, specifically metal-on-metal hips, which are made out of cobalt and chromium, can lead to serious health conditions.

If complications persist, a revision surgery is often needed to replace the defective and/or recalled implant, and repair the surrounding damaged tissue. However, patients are often older and weaker once they need a revision surgery, and severe complications can occur during their recovery.

Types of Hip Replacement Complications from Revision Surgery

• Infection. A common complication from any surgery can be an infection. This happens when bacteria attach to the surface of a prothesis or to tissues in the area around an implant. Eliminating an infection deep within the body can be difficult, which can cause serious problems for a patient. Pain, loosening of the implant and drainage can result from this complication. Another revision surgery could be required to deal with the issue.
• Pulmonary embolism. This complication can occur due to post-surgical blood clots. If some of that clotting breaks away and travels through the body and into the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism. This can cause serious damage to your lungs, shortness of breath, chest pain and it could even result in death.
• Heterotopic ossification. When bone grows in non-skeletal tissues like muscles and tendons it can cause pain and loss of motion. This abnormal growth is referred to as heterotopic ossification, and it can occur after a hip replacement revision surgery. This condition can take up to a year to develop, and treatment options range from movement therapy to medication, surgery or radiation therapy.
• Dislocation and loosening. During revision surgery, many parts and even an entire implant can be replaced. However, the trauma from surgery can leave the body unable to properly heal. This means that further instability can occur over time and loosen or even dislocate the components from the replacement. This can result in severe pain and an inability to mobilize your hip joints. Many patients will have to undergo a re-revision surgery to stabilize the hip joint to prevent further dislocations or fix a leg length discrepancy that can occur from a revision surgery.

If you recently received a revision hip replacement surgery and you are experiencing complications, you could possibly file a lawsuit. Contact the defective hip attorneys at Kershaw, Cook & Talley today for a free case evaluation.

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About the Author:

Bill Kershaw