Hip Replacement Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

If you are planning to have a hip replacement, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Hip dislocation (most common complication)—occurs when the ball portion of the prosthesis dislocates from its normal position in the hip
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Swelling or bleeding
• Injury to nearby nerves or blood vessels
• Anesthesia-related problems, like pneumonia

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Pre-existing medical condition (eg, heart or lung problems)
• Obesity
• Infection (eg, urinary tract infection , gum disease )—Having an infection increases the risk of bacteria entering the bloodstream and infecting the joint.
• Previous problems with blood clots
• Smoking

Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the surgery.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge around incision site
• Pain and/or swelling in the feet, calves, or legs
• Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain
• Severe nausea or vomiting
• Hip pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given or that becomes worse
• Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling in your leg, knee, or foot
• Pain, burning, urgency or frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine

In case of an emergency, CALL 911.