Every year, hip implants help people with arthritis and other debilitating conditions regain their lost mobility and live more pain-free lives. Anyone who has ever had a hip replacement, however, knows that rehabilitation after surgery is a slow and sometimes painful process. That is part of the reason why the DePuy recall is so concerning. The hip replacement recall means that many patients who have DePuy hip systems will need to have a second revision surgery years sooner than they probably expected. These subsequent surgeries are riskier, have a lower success rate and are associated with a higher risk of complications. Another key difference between initial hip replacements and revision surgeries is that rehabilitation is often more difficult and requires more time.
The rehabilitation period after a primary hip replacement can be as short as three months. If there are problems with any aspect of the rehabilitation, or the patient has other health problems, it may take as long as six months for the individual to fully recover. The following is a general rehabilitation timeline for an individual who has had an initial total hip replacement:
One to two days after the procedure
The patient will be able to sit up and stand. He or she may even be permitted to walk with assistance.
Three to five days after the procedure
The patient is typically discharged from the hospital.
After discharge to six weeks
The patient will begin weight bearing and will practice exercises to improve strength and range of motion.
From six weeks to three months
The patient will continue exercising to improve strength and range of motion in the hip, knee and trunk area. He or she will stop using canes, walkers and other assistive devices. The patient can begin more strenuous exercise such as stair climbing and biking.
Three months after the procedure
The patient has regained most of his or her strength in the hip area and once again has a normal range of motion.
Rehabilitation after a hip revision surgery is usually a much slower process. In general, patients can expect to be in recovery for about six months before they are able to walk without a limp. Physical therapy may continue for up to one year. Individuals who undergo a hip revision may need in-patient rehabilitation before going home and will need to be closely monitored during recovery.
As the above information illustrates, an individual will ideally need to undergo only one hip replacement procedure during his or her lifetime. Those who are young or very active may wear their devices out over the years, necessitating a second replacement. In addition, many of those who received the faulty devices that are the subject of the DePuy recall will not only have to undergo a revision surgery that has a higher chance of failure, but also go through a lengthier rehabilitation process.
If youve been harmed by a DePuy hip implant or are concerned about how the difficulties surrounding your revision procedure affect your hip implant lawsuit, contact the Rottenstein Law Group today.
News and updates about the hip replacement recall is available here. If you, or a loved one, have been implanted with an ASR device stay informed about the DePuy hip recall.