• Hip Surgery
  • Hip Arthroscopy
  • Hip Replacement
  • Hip Microplasty
  • Hip Resurfacing
• Knee Surgery
  • Knee Arthroscopy
  • Knee Replacement
• Publications
  • Professional
  • Patient Information
  • General Interest
• Hospital Information
  • About Spire
  • Spire Cambridge Lea
  • Request an Appointment
  • Hospital Location
• Return Home

  

Hip Surgery  

  

Knee Surgery  

 

Hip Resurfacing - Complications

 

Although hip resurfacing is an astonishingly successful operation, it would be wrong to pretend that surgery always proceeds as planned. Complications do occur, and it is essential that all patients contemplating surgery are aware of their existence. However, please do not allow your imagination to blow matters out of proportion. In reality, complications are infrequent and most are reversible. Many of the complications associated with total hip replacement also apply to hip resurfacing

Complications are of three sorts:

 

1. Operative
2. Post-operative
3. Long-term (six months or more after surgery)

 

Operative complications
Nerve Damage	Leg length inequality (risk: 6%)
Vascular Damage	Entrapped drain
Coritical perforation	Cement extrusion
Fracture	Anaesthetic complications

 

Post-operative complications
Nerve damage	Wound dehiscence
Fracture (risk: 2%)	Respiratory complications
Dislocation	Prosthetic displacement
Infection	Knee pain
Trochanteric problems	Swollen ankles
Bowel complications (risk: 1%)	Skin complications
Urinary complications	Metabolic complications
Haematoma formation	Death (risk: 1%)
Cardiovascular complications, including deep vein thrombosis

 

Long-term complications
Aseptic loosening	Ectopic ossification
Bone stock loss with femoral neck resorption	Allergic reaction (ALVAL)
Component fracture	Pseudotumour formation
Late dislocation	High serum metal levels
Late infection (risk: less than 1%)	Tendonitis (e.g. iliopsoas)
Bone fracture (risk: less than 1%)

 

The list above will appear long to anyone who wishes to undergo hip resurfacing surgery. Unfortunately it represents the reality of the situation and, perhaps, concentrates the mind as to whether or not surgery is definitely needed. Please also understand that the list is not comprehensive. This is why a surgeon will frequently struggle to dissuade a patient from having a hip resurfacing. Some of the terms used may be unfamiliar to you. If so, please ask your surgeon for further details.