Review Article

Prevention of early complications following total hip replacement

¹ Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University College London Hospitals, London NW1 2BU, UK
² Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
³ Melbourne Orthopaedic Group, Windsor, Victoria 3181, Australia
⁴ Monash University, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Australia
⁵ Institute of Orthopaedics “Carlos E. Ottolenghi”, Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
⁶ Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, 137 South LiYuShan Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, China
⁷ Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
⁸ University College London, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

^* Corresponding author: andreasfontalis@gmail.com

Received: 6 May 2021
Accepted: 29 October 2021

Abstract

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been quoted as “the operation of the century”, owing to its efficacy and the substantial improvements evidenced with respect to functional patient outcomes and quality of life. However, early postoperative complications are often inevitable, hence it is imperative to take every step to prevent them and minimise morbidity and mortality. This manuscript focuses on the most common early complications following THA, namely venous thromboembolism (VTE), prosthetic joint infection, periprosthetic fracture, instability, and leg length inequality. It aims to outline effective risk stratification strategies and prevention measures that could apply to the wider Orthopaedic community.