What are the dislocation risks after hip replacement? is a person at greater risk of dislocation after a complete hip joint replacement?

Yes. : Yes. By nature of the fact that the muscles and capsule that surround and support the native hip are cut during the approach to the hip during surgery, there is a risk for dislocation after surgery before these structures have had a chance to fully heal. We teach patients after surgery to avoid certain positions with their legs, and place a pillow between their legs for the first few days after surgery to prevent them from moving their leg into a position that we know will risk dislocation. This risk declines significantly 2 to 3 months after surgery. However, even after that, an artificial hip can dislocate. If the hip is implanted in a less than ideal position, it can be at risk of dislocation during normal range of motion, and this could be a reason to revise the surgery to improve the position of the implants.

1-2%: Dislocation is the most common complication after a total hip replacement, but fortunately does not occurr frequently. The surgical approach used does influence the risk of dislocation, as well as the experience of the surgeon. How the tissues around the hip are handled and repaired at the end of the operation is an important factor. A partial replacement is less likely to dislocate than a total.

Low risk: Dislocation can occur after a tha but is generally very low and dependent on the original surgical approach, femoral ball size, and skill of the surgeon. The incidence of dislocation ranges from 0.1% to 1-2% depending on the above factors. While surface replacement may have less risk than a total hip replacement, other factors may make these less desirable. Discuss with your surgeon.