The hip joint is a very important joint because it allows a lot of movement but also supports a lot of weight. As its name indicates Hemi-arthroplasty means that in this surgery only half of the hip is replaced, the cup remains its own bone.
What is Hemi-arthroplasty of the hip?
You will have to lie on the opposite side from the one you are going to have surgery, the surgeon will cut the top of the femur and then place half of the hip in the right place. The surgeon will then close the wound with stitches.
Operation risk
As with all procedures, this carries some risks and complications.
Common
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Deep Vein Thrombosis: A blood clot in a vein. The risks of developing DVT are higher after any surgery. Your surgeon may give you medicine to try to limit your risk of DVT. Starting to walk as soon as possible is one of the best ways to prevent blood clots from forming.
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Bleeding: There will unavoidably be some bleeding. But if you lose a lot of blood, you may need a blood transfusion.
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Pain: After the operation you will notice that the area is sore, over the time the pain will fade. If the pain persists, call one of the doctors so that they can give you antibiotics.
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Altered length: After the operation it may appear that one leg is shorter than the other.
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Dislocation of the joint: If this situation occurs, it can be put back in place without the need to operate again.
Less Common:
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Infection: The area where they have performed the operation may become painful or red, this may be signs of infection it may be necessary to take antibiotics to cure these infections.
Rare
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Altered wound healing: The wound may become red, thickened, and painful (keloid scar), especially in Afro-Caribbeans..
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Damage to nerves: There is a risk of damage to the nerves in the knee. There may also be damage to the perineal nerve, this may cause temporary or permanent weakness in the lowest part of the leg..
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Bone Damage: The bone may break when the prosthesis is inserted. This may require repair, either at the same time or in a later operation.
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Damage to the blood vessels: The vessels in the back of the knee can rarely be damaged, may require some additional surgery.
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Pulmonary Embolism: Pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that affects the lungs.
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Death: This situation is very rare to occur, but can occur with any complication of the above situations.
