Question

A client has a total hip replacement for long-standing degenerative bone disease of the hip. When assessing this client postoperatively, the nurse considers that the most common complication of hip surgery is:

Answer 1

The most common complication of hip surgery, such as total hip replacement, is thrombophlebitis, which can lead to a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism. Nurses must closely monitor for this and other complications like pneumonia and infection of pressure ulcers in the postoperative period.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing a client postoperatively who has had a total hip replacement for degenerative bone disease of the hip, the most common complication of hip surgery that nurses consider is thrombophlebitis, which is the formation of a blood clot in a vein. As a result of prolonged bed rest following surgery, these blood clots can sometimes lead to a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening condition where the clot travels to the lungs.

Total hip replacement surgery, also known as total hip arthroplasty, is commonly performed to alleviate the pain and restore joint mobility in cases of osteoarthritis. Post-surgical complications can also include pneumonia, infection of pressure ulcers, and femoral neck necrosis due to any disruption of blood supply during surgery. Hence, it is critical for healthcare providers to monitor for signs of these complications and provide appropriate postoperative care to ensure patient recovery and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with hip replacement surgeries.