Health Experts Bares Risks Associated with Hip Replacements in Elders

Elderly individuals are the ones who are suffering from severe hip joint problems caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and hip fractures. The trauma faced by the patients of these diseases is often inexplicable and when medications are not the answer, doctors prefer surgeries. Often, they are the candidates for hip replacement. Hip replacement is a surgical procedure wherein the damaged hip joint is replaced by an implant. However, these patients may be at risk for health complications due to the old age, according to health experts. This article tackles the potential health dangers that may be experienced by elderly hip replacement patients. 

·         InfectionThere is a high risk for infection in elderly patients. Although peri-operative prophylactic antibiotics are administered before joint replacement, identification and treatment of these chronic or acute infections is recommended given the risk of bacteremia and seeding of the surgical site. Moreover, some infection may require removal of the implant, followed by weeks of IV antibiotics.
·         Heart ProblemsOne dangerous health complication caused by hip replacement surgery is cardiovascular problems. Elderly patients are required to be thoroughly examined for any heart problems, such as arterial, valvular, and electrophysiological disease. Often, surgical or medical interventions can reduce the risks of hip replacement by addressing these diseases preoperatively. 
·         Nerve DamageDuring hip replacement surgery, there is a potential that the nerves surrounding the vicinity of the operation may get stretched or injured, causing paralysis and/or numbness of the leg. This generally occurs when the orthopaedic surgeon needs to correct the joint in order to implant the prosthesis. With time, these nerves usually begin to function again. In rare instances, this may result to a permanent deficit.
·         DislocationThe hip replacement implant is very different from the normal hip joint. The normal hip joints have many surrounding structures that help to stabilize the hip joint. These structures include muscles, ligaments, and the normal bony structure of the hip joint. Together, these structures keep the ball (the femoral head) within the socket (the acetabulum). Dislocation of the hip replacement is a common problem seen in patients of all ages, not just the elderly.
If you are suffering from hip joint problems and are interested in hip replacement surgery, you need to carefully plan this with your doctor to prevent or lessen these potential complications.Assessing this risk and comparing it to potential benefits allows the patient and their family to make an informed and intelligent decision. Moreover, the FDA has placed one manufacturer of hip replacement devices, Stryker Corp, under scrutiny due to high product failure rates. There are also a number of upset users who filed lawsuits against the manufacturer. The Stryker hip recall at strykerhipreplacementrecall.net offers more information regarding this matter.