Hip Replacement Complications – Risk of Infection & Cure.
Knee and total hip replacement are two of the most prevalent elective procedures. Joint replacement surgery eliminates pain and allows most patients to live richer, more active lives. However, problems might occur in rare cases. The most worrying hip replacement issues are those that endanger the patient’s general health and vitality, such as anaesthetic difficulties. Other problems, such as leg length discrepancies, are not medically significant but might impact comfort and life expectancy.
Infection is one possible danger. After joint replacement, a small proportion of individuals may develop an infection. Infections are frequently seen in the incision or deep surrounding the implant. It can happen anytime following your operation, from hours to months to years. It is critical to recognise the symptoms so that you can get quick treatment.
Causes: Bacteria are the root cause of infections. Although bacteria are prevalent in our gastrointestinal system or on the skin, our immune system normally keeps them in check. If germs enter our circulation, our immune system reacts quickly and eliminates the invading bacteria. Nevertheless, since joint replacements are constructed of metal and plastic, the immune system has a tough time attacking microorganisms that get inside these implants. Bacteria may proliferate and create an infection if they obtain entry to the implants. Patients with infected hip replacements frequently require surgery to treat the disease, despite medicines and preventative therapies.
The following are the most typical ways germs enter the body:
- During extensive dental surgeries, through skin breaches or cuts
- As a result of wounds from prior surgical operations
- Immune dysfunction
- Type 2 diabetes
- Immunosuppressive medications (chemotherapy/corticosteroids)
- Obesity
Cure: Nonsurgical treatment is available for some types of joint infections. Oral/intravenous antibiotics can be administered if the disease only affects the surface and tissue around the joint, not the joint itself. However, surgery is indicated if a such infection has advanced to the joint. Joint infection can be treated surgically in two ways:
- When the infection is discovered within a few days after its development, it may be feasible to heal it by cleaning the joint. Debridement entails the removal of any infected soft tissue surrounding your joint. After that, the implant is disinfected, and the plastic lining is changed.
- Staged surgery is a treatment that is performed in stages over time. This form of surgery may be required to treat an infection which has lasted more than some days or if the illness develops years or months after the first operation.
Conclusion
Several signs indicate infection following hip replacement surgery, such as swelling, redness surrounding the area, lethargy, and wound leakage. If your pain meets all the criteria, schedule an appointment with our professional physician at YKOrthopaedics as soon as possible.
