Informed consent for a hip replacement
If you are considering a hip replacement, you need the full picture so you can make a well-informed decision. That process is called informed consent. Below you can read what it means for a hip replacement.
What does the operation involve?
Lucas Kleijn explains why a hip replacement may be necessary, how the operation goes, and answers any questions you have.
What are the risks and complications?
Like any operation, a hip replacement carries risks. Lucas Kleijn will tell you about the possible complications, such as:
- Infection. Measures such as antibiotics and filtered air in the operating theatre keep the risk of wound infection low, but not zero. Serious infections occur in about 2% of cases.
- Bleeding. There is always some bleeding into the tissue, to a greater or lesser degree. Wound fluid may leak for a while, or a bruise may be painful.
- Bone fracture. A fracture of the pelvis or the thigh bone can affect the treatment after surgery, for example because you cannot put weight on the leg straight away. This is extremely rare.
- Thrombosis (blood clots). Blood thinners in the first weeks after surgery keep the risk as small as possible, but not at zero. If your leg swells badly or you suddenly become short of breath, report it. A long flight straight after surgery increases the risk of thrombosis.
- How long the prosthesis lasts. Ceramic materials have made rapid wear of the prosthesis a thing of the past. The often-quoted lifespan of 15 years is no longer current: recent research shows lifelong survival of the prosthesis in 95% of people aged 70 and over.
- Nerve damage. With the anterior approach in experienced hands, the chance of serious damage to the femoral nerve in the groin is very small, well under 1%. More common is bruising of a small skin nerve near the scar. This can leave a numb patch below the scar, which may last for months before it shrinks. Sometimes it stays, but people rarely find it a problem.
- Dislocation. With the anterior approach the chance that the prosthesis dislocates is very small, under 1%.
- Difference in leg length. Because you lie on your back during the anterior approach, leg length can be judged quite precisely during surgery. An unwanted difference in leg length is very rare.
- General risks of any operation, such as complications from the anaesthetic.
What can you expect during recovery?
Lucas Kleijn explains how long recovery usually takes, how much improvement in movement and pain you can expect, and which limitations, if any, may remain. He also talks about the role of rehabilitation and physiotherapy, and about walking aids during recovery.
Are there alternatives?
A hip replacement is not always the only option. Depending on your situation, Lucas Kleijn will tell you about alternatives such as physiotherapy, medication, losing weight or corticosteroid injections.
Your questions and your consent
Informed consent means you get enough time to ask questions and to understand all the information. You should never feel pressured into an operation. Once you have received and understood all the information, you give your consent for the operation, verbally or in writing.
Do ask questions if you want to know more about the operation or what it could mean for you. Contact Lucas Kleijn