Complications of hip surgery
Complications of surgery for a hip fracture include infection of the hip or the urinary tract, a blood clot in a vein (deep vein thrombosis) or in a lung (pulmonary embolism), pneumonia (bacterial infection of the lungs), and pressure ulcers (breaks in the skin that can become infected). Many of these complications may result from bed rest and inactivity after surgery. These complications also become more serious when other factors are involved, such as advanced age, other health problems, and the general risks of surgery.
An estimated 1 in 4 people with hip fractures die from complications within the first year.1
| Author: | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH | Last Updated: July 9, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Kenneth J. Koval, MD - Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Trauma | |
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