Hip replacement
The most common problem that can arise as a result of a hip replacement is loosening of the joint, which causes pain and feeling that the joint is unstable. This happens in around 10% of cases.
This can be caused by the shaft of the prosthesis becoming loose in the hollow of the thigh bone, or due to thinning of the bone around the implant.
Loosening of the joint can occur at any time, but it normally occurs 10-15 years after the original surgery was performed.
Another operation (revision surgery) may be necessary, although this can't be performed in all patients.
In around3% ofcases the hip joint can come out of its socket. This is most likely to occur in the first few months after surgery when the hip is still healing.
Further surgery will be required to put the joint back into place.
Another common complication of hip replacement surgery is wear and tear of the artificial sockets. Particles that have worn off the artificial joint surfaces can be absorbed by surrounding tissue, causing loosening of the joint.
If wear or loosening is noticed on X-ray, your surgeon may request regular X-rays. Depending on the severity of the problem, you may be advised to have further surgery.
There have been reports about metal-on-metal implants wearing sooner than expected and causing complications.The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advises thatcertain metal-on-metal implants should be checked annually.
You can consult your doctor for further advice if you have any concerns about your hip replacement or don't know which type you have.
Read our metal-on-metal implant advice Q&A .
The soft tissues can harden around the implant, causing reduced mobility.
This isn't usually painful and can be prevented using medication or radiation therapy (a quick and painless procedure during which controlled doses of radiation are directed at your hip joint).
Serious complications of a hip replacement are uncommon, occurring in fewer than one in a 100 cases.
There's a small risk of developing a blood clot in the first few weeks after surgery either deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the leg or pulmonary embolism in the lung.
Symptoms of DVT include:
Symptoms of pulmonary embolism include:
If you suspect either of these types of blood clots you should seek immediate medical advice from your GP or the doctor in charge of your care. If this isn't possible then call NHS 111 or your local out-of-hours service.
To reduce your risk of blood clots you may be given blood thinning medication such as warfarin , or asked to wear compression stockings.
There's always a small risk that some bacteria could work its way into the tissue around the artificial hip joint, triggering an infection.
Symptoms of an infection include:
Seek immediate medical advice, as detailed above, if you think you may have an infection.
Read about hip replacements, a common type of surgery where a damaged hip joint is replaced with an artificial one (known as a prosthesis)
Read about how a hip replacement is performed, including choosing the type of anaesthetic you're given
Read about the risks of hip replacement surgery, including joint problems, hip dislocation, blood clots and infection
Read about recovering from hip replacement surgery, including looking after your new hip and getting back to normal activities
Advice from the NHS on metal-on-metal hip implants, including what to do if you're concerned about your implant and warning signs to look out for.
Builder Norman Lane, 63, hasnt stopped running since he had a double hip replacement. He talks about his operation and why he would advise anyone to do it.