Hip Replacement Complications
Hip replacement surgery is very common in the UK and generally very successful. Occasionally, however, it can lead to significant, life-changing complications.
Hip replacement surgery
Although common, with over 100,000 hip operations recorded in the UK in 2016, a hip replacement is, nonetheless, a significant operation which carries associated risks.
Variation in Provision of Surgery
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, at the request of NHS England, is currently undertaking a consultation with a view to developing guidelines on hip, knee and shoulder replacements.
NICE has identified that, whilst the number of such replacements is increasing and the age at which they are carried out is reducing, there remains a wide variation in the types of replacements carried out and the nature of post-operative services provided to patients which results in a diversity of experience of pain and long-term quality of life.
The aim of the new guideline will be to provide a quality standard for these procedures, trying to ensure the best treatment and care for all patients and reduce variation in provision.
A view from The British Orthopaedic Association
According to their website, The British Orthopaedic Association is also seeking to reduce complications such as infection in surgery, to increase the life of new joints and to improve patient experience and outcomes, thereby reducing the need for repeat surgery or additional procedures to rectify errors.
Risks of hip surgery
Infection in the wound
All surgery carries a risk of infection in the wound by allowing bacteria to enter the body.
Although an infection following hip surgery is uncommon, when it does occur it can cause significant complications. If the infection enters the joint, it may even necessitate removal of the new joint in order to allow the infection to clear before repeat surgery to introduce another new hip joint.
A post-operative infection can also potentially lead to the development of a septic reaction which can threaten the life of the patient.
Nerve damage
If the surgeon is insufficiently careful in the course of the surgery, a nerve may be damaged, compromising the functioning of the lower body. This can lead to foot drop, where the patient loses the ankle reflex and their foot begins to drag instead of lifting. This can lead to significant mobility problems, impacting on many aspects of the patient's life.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
A blood clot can develop in the leg following hip replacement surgery if the vein is damaged or the blood flow is compromised. This can become a serious problem for the patient if it leads to a pulmonary embolism when a clot travels from its original location through the circulatory system and ends up blocking the arteries to the lungs. This can prove fatal.
Incompetent surgery
Inexperience or incompetence on the part of the surgeon may mean that the success of the hip replacement itself is inadequate and problems such as movement and loosening of the joint develop over time. This is likely to require repeat surgery, exposing the patient to all the usual risks of serious surgery once again.
Medical Negligence
Complications during surgery are not necessarily a sign of negligence. In order to demonstrate a good standard of care, however, it is important that awareness of risks is paramount in the minds of the medical practitioners.
Where appropriate, all steps should be taken to prevent complications. This might include the use of prophylactic antibiotics where it is felt that infection is a significant possibility, especially in those most vulnerable patients.
Where an error does occur during surgery, it is imperative that it is noticed at the time and that a timely and appropriate response is undertaken to resolve the problem.
Where a client is identified as being at particular risk, such as a pregnant woman or overweight individual being susceptible to Deep Vein Thrombosis, it is essential that that person is closely monitored and cared for in such a way as to avoid complications.
Seeking Legal Advice
If you have suffered with the traumatic long-term effects of negligent hip surgery, you may wish to consult a solicitor regarding a possible claim for compensation.
Contact Glynns Solicitors. We are specialists in medical negligence and would be happy to advise you.
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