Infection is one of the risks involved when having hip replacement surgery. And the infection can occur in a number of different places: at the site of your incision, deep in muscle tissue located near the hip, as well as in the bone of the hip itself. Treatment depends upon the level and location of the infection and can range from antibiotics to surgery.
Bone Infection Risk
Bone infection (also known as osteomyelitis) can occur due to an injury, as a result of infected blood in the bloodstream, due to orthopedic surgeries (hip replacement) or through the use of orthopedic devices (like prosthetic hips). In fact, such surgery and orthopedic device use increases this type of infection risk, according to the online website PDR Health.com.
Infection Symptoms
Infection can occur during or after surgery, with symptoms ranging from fever---which is the earliest recognized symptom---to swelling, redness, and bone pain. Movement of the bone may be painful and tenderness may also be present. In addition, a lack of energy, vomiting or chills may also be experienced.
Diagnosis: Blood Testing
There are two blood tests that can be performed in the effort to diagnosis osteomyelitis. One is a white blood cell count (WBC), and the other is a red blood cell sedimentation rate (also known as ESR or erythrocyte). In addition, another test, known as the C-reactive protein test, can also be helpful in recognizing inflammation within the body that might be attributed to bone infection. A high or elevated level of these tests can indicate infection.
Diagnosis: Imaging
X-rays are usually the first imaging device employed to diagnose osteomyelitis. However, this type of imaging doesn't capture bone infection until it has been underway for several weeks. MRI imaging tests do not have such a handicap and can even differentiate between bone infection and bone tumors (and dead tissue) but it is a more costly test. Other imaging tests can be run also (CT scans, radionuclide), but results are not always better than MRI testing, and can require injection of radioactive material.
Bacteria and Treatment
Once it has been confirmed that there is a bone infection, it becomes necessary to determine which bacteria is responsible in order to properly treat the condition. Therefore, in addition to blood samples, bone and bone tissue---along with joint fluid or pus---may also be taken and tested.
Treatment
Antibiotics administered through an IV or an injection is usually the first treatment provided medically for bone infection. And it is likely that a hospitalization may also be necessary. If the bone is infected so badly that heavy dosages of antibiotic treatment is not successful, surgery may become necessary in order to remove the bone that is infected and replace it with another orthopedic device.
