Early Complications After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract

Abstract
The rising volume of total hip arthroplasty procedures will coincide with a rising burden of post-operative complications. Problems such as dislocation, limb length discrepancy, nerve palsy, and infection can occur early in the post-operative period, worsening long-term outcomes and requiring large healthcare expenditures. Continued improvements in prevention, recognition, and management of total hip arthroplasty complications are necessary as health resources become more limited.

Keywords
Hip replacement, limb length discrepancy, hip dislocation, sciatic nerve palsy, hip infection

Disclosure: Jay Patel, MD, MS, has no conflicts of interest to declare. Kevin Bozic, MD, MBA, is a board member, officer, or committee member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the California Orthopaedic Association, and a paid consultant to the Integrated Healthcare Association, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, United Health Care, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (MedCAC), and the Pacific Business Group on Health.
Received: March 19, 2009 Accepted: April 2, 2009
Correspondence: Kevin Bozic, MD, MBA, Associate Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 500 Parnassus, MU 320W, San Francisco, CA 94143. E: bozick@orthosurg.ucsf.edu