The immediate risks during and after surgery include the development of blood clots that may come loose and block the arteries, excessive loss of blood, and infection. Blood thinning medication is usually given to reduce the risk of clots forming. Some elderly people experience short term confusion and disorientation from the anesthesia. Although joint replacement surgery is highly successful, there is an increased risk of nerve injury. Dislocation or fracture of the hip joint is also a possibility.
Infection caused by the operation can occur as long as a year later and can be difficult to treat.
Some doctors add antibiotics directly to the cement used to fix the replacement joint in place. Loosening of the joint is the most common cause of failure in hip joints that are not infected. The success rate is slightly lower in knee replacements, and drops still more for other joint replacement operations. Catheterization Inserting a tube into the bladder so that a patient can urinate without leaving the bed. Prosthesis A synthetic replacement for a missing part of the body, such as a knee or a hip.