Severe hip damage like osteoarthritis may now be treated with hip replacement surgery, orthopedic experts say, although it is possible that the artificial hip will fail and the patient may require a hip revision. Dr. Lalit Puri explained that joint revision surgeries are more complex than the initial joint replacement because there is typically reduced bone and muscle mass, as well as a higher risk for complication, according to a press release from the Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Women may be advised to undergo a hip revision surgery if they have suffered from complications brought about by their hip implants. Some patients who have experienced severe hip pain and damage are waiting for the news regarding the possible settlements from Johnson & Johnson.

Women are more prone to develop osteoarthritis, research shows, and this means that more women undergo hip replacement surgery. There are several signs that may indicate the need for a revision surgery. Women who have an all-metal hip implant may need to watch out for the following signs and symptoms:

-      Pain – this may be the first sign that is felt by women. This may be the motivating factor for some because it will prevent them from doing their day-to-day activities. The more activities they do, the more the pain aggravates. Hence, they might avoid doing any kind of activity.

-      Stiffness – there are some cases that there is no pain but the joint is stiff and is immobile. This lack of mobility will also limit them from performing their activities at home and work. Stiffness may be experienced because the hip joint is fused.

Hip joint revision may be done but patients need to find an expert that will perform this operation because not all orthopedic surgeons are equipped to perform this surgical procedure. The damaged hip joint needs to be removed and replaced by a new one. Patients may need to think things over before going through a hip revision surgery as there are also several complications to this type of operation. There might be some patients who will develop health complications because of the surgical procedure.

Hence, women who are advised to have a revision surgery might need to take into consideration several factors before deciding to have this major surgery. Although news about the DePuy hip recall has already been released, some patients who have the all-metal hip implants are still unaware about it.

URL References:

orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00510

ard.bmj.com/content/56/8/455.full

nmh.org/nm/hip-revision-patient-story

hss.edu/conditions_revision-total-hip-replacement-overview.asp#Things