Depending on your Body Mass Index (BMI), you may be told that you need to reduce your weight prior to surgery. People with a BMI score of over 35 can have a harder time healing and an increased risk of complications.
Here are some of the specific complications associated with obesity after joint replacement surgery:
In most circumstances, complications after total hip replacement are uncommon but inherent to the procedure. In all likelihood you will have a normal recovery without problems. However, potential risks do include infections of the joint replacement (which can happen at any time during the life of the replacement), wound healing complications, dislocation, leg length discrepancy, loosening of the implants, fractures (during surgery or after), wear of the plastic liner, numbness around the incision, excessive blood loss requiring transfusion. Medical complications are also infrequent but include blood clots in the legs or lungs, heart attacks and strokes. This is not meant to be an all-encompassing list.
Your surgeon and the entire surgical team have worked diligently to put together a program that significantly reduces the risk of complications. Over the last few years the complication rates have definitely been reduced but the potential for complications still exist and have not been completely eliminated.
Typically, patients who undergo Total Hip Arthroplasty may require a 1-2 night hospital stay but some patients can go home the same day as their surgery. Each patient recovers differently but all must reach the following goals before being discharged home:
Hip replacements do wear and can eventually wear out. Unfortunately, an artificial hip is not as durable as your own hip. Because the hip replacement implants are made of metal and plastic, these materials wear over time, similar to the rubber on your car tires.
Studies show that hip replacements can last more than 20 years. This is dependent on many factors. The activity level, weight and age of the patient can effect the longevity of the joint. One very large study found that 80% of hip replacements were functioning well after 15 years in the younger (less than 65) patients, and 94% of the older (over 65) patients.
You may have relatively mild pain following the procedure, or you may have a more difficult time than others. Everyone is unique and handles and perceives pain differently. Keep in mind that while pain management has greatly improved, a pain-free surgery is unlikely. You will want to take your pain medicines as directed by your surgeon and minimize the amount of narcotic/opioids taken.
Typically, the incision will be about 4 inches long but depending on the surgical needs – it is what is done underneath the skin that counts not the length of the incision! Your surgeon will make the incision as large as it needs to be in order to perform an excellent surgery.
It varies. Some patients will go home the same day while others may need to stay a couple of days. This is highly dependent upon your condition before surgery, your age, and medical problems which can influence your recovery. A safe discharge plan will be arranged for you by our orthopaedic team.
The majority of people who undergo total hip replacement are able to participate in a majority of their daily activities by six weeks. By three months, most people have regained much the endurance and strength lost around the time of surgery, and can participate in daily activities without restriction. However, people make gains for up to a year after their hip replacement. While daily activities have resumed, it is important to avoid high impact activities to give you the best long-term outcome with your hip.
This is very patient dependant, but Hip replacement patients need very little formal physical therapy. We want to make sure you are careful walking with crutches and/or walker. The hip is structurally sound soon as the surgery is over and is ready to be walked on.
