Home > Surgery > Risks

Complications and risks of surgery

Hip surgery is a major operation. Although complications are rare, they can still occur. The most common risks are not directly related to the hip itself but to surgery in general and the physiological changes it has on your body. You should be aware of these before you consent to surgery. The statistics quoted are national figures.

Common complications

• Deep vein thrombosis (about 3%): A blood clot in the deep veins of the legs, which is usually easily treated. However, if not detected, a portion of the clot can sometimes break off and lodge in the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism (less than 1%), a potentially fatal condition.
• Precautions to reduce the risk of blood clot formation include the wearing of TED stockings and flotron gaiters, devices that keep the blood moving in the legs and help stop clot formation. Patients are also given blood-thinning medication and are advised to move around as much as possible soon after surgery.
• Urinary problems: The anaesthetic can cause difficulty in urinating. This can be treated by inserting a catheter (sterile tube) into the bladder to drain the urine. Urinary tract infections are usually treated effectively with antibiotics.
• Constipation: Common after surgery due to medications and immobility. It can be eased by drinking plenty of fluids, eating a high fibre balanced diet, walking, and if necessary, treated with laxatives.
• Heart attack, stroke or chest infection (less than 1%): Any big operation puts a strain on your heart, brain and chest. A very small number of people have serious problems soon afterwards, such as a heart attack, a stroke or a bad chest infection. These are more likely to happen if you already have heart disease or a bad chest. Your anaesthetist and medical team will ensure you are in the best possible condition for surgery.

Complications due to hip surgery

• Dislocation (less than 1%): The ball can become dislodged from the socket in a small minority of cases, but this can usually be rectified without the need for further surgery. The risk is highest in the four weeks following surgery, before the tissues around the joint have healed. You will receive instructions from your care team on how to avoid this happening.
• Deep Infection (less than 0.1%): Infection may occur in the wound or deep around the prosthesis. It can happen in hospital or after you go home, sometimes years after surgery. All infections are treated with antibiotics. However, if a major infection does not respond to antibiotics the hip implant may need to be replaced.
• Leg length difference: Very occasionally surgery may result in a slight difference in leg lengths. This produces the most significant complications nationally. Miss Muirhead-Allwood uses a very careful routine to minimise this complication.
• Foot weakness: Due to nerve damage during surgery. This is a rare complication which we believe occurs in less than 1 in 1000 patients. It often improves over time and may completely disappear.
• Fracture of the hip bones (less than 1%): This is very rare. If it occurs during surgery it can usually be fixed at the same time.