Infection is a possible complication of hip replacement surgery. The immune system cannot fight bacterial infections on the replacement components. To help prevent a hip replacement infection, patients are typically given antibiotics before the hip replacement surgery. If someone with a hip replacement develops an infection elsewhere, they should seek prompt treatment for the infection. An infection in another part of the body may enter the bloodstream and cause hip replacement infections.
When infection occurs, antibiotics are administered to treat the infection. Antibiotics may be administered orally or intravenously. In some cases, the antibiotics fail to cure the infection. If hip replacement infection occurs soon after surgery, the surgeon may decide to surgically open the site of the hip replacement and irrigate the joint in an attempt to flush out the bacteria. This is typically followed by intravenous antibiotics.
Infection can become serious. Infection can loosen the components of the hip replacement and threaten the health of the individual. When a deep infection after hip replacement surgery persists, the surgeon may decide that it is best to remove the hip replacement components.
When the hip components are removed, the infected tissue may also be removed. The hip resection arthroplasty Girdlestone procedure may be performed to help the patient recover some use of the hip. The hip resection arthroplasty Girdlestone procedure helps treat the clear the infection, reduce the patient’s pain, and increase mobility. In most cases, the patient does not gain total mobility after the procedure. Walkers, canes, or even wheelchairs are necessary for almost all patients who have hip resection arthroplasty Girdlestone procedures.
During the hip resection arthroplasty Girdlestone procedures, the length of the effected leg may become from three to eleven centimeters shorter. The ball of the top of the femur, or upper leg bone, is fused with the hip socket. Therefore, the patient will be unable to move the effected leg at the hip. The leg at the hip is fused in a position for a straight leg.
The patient’s ability to walk is partially dependent on how much length of the bone had to be removed. Though the patient has limited mobility, the hip resection arthroplasty often completely or significantly relieves the patient’s hip pain. In addition to the treatment of persisting, deep infection after hip replacement surgery, hip resection arthroplasty Girdlestone procedures are used when hip replacement surgery is not a viable option.
