A review of the most common complications following primary total hip arthroplasty

Despite the continued success of primary total hip arthroplasty, morbidity and mortality still exist. In the current literature, mortality following primary total hip arthroplasty is reported to be less than 1%. Further, with improvements in perioperative care, surgical technique, and anesthesia, morbidity following total hip arthroplasty is decreasing. Currently, the most common complications following a total hip replacement include cardiovascular events, wound complications, leg-length discrepancy, heterotopic ossification, deep infection, dislocation, neurovascular injury (e.g. sciatic nerve injury), venous thromboembolic disease, and periprosthetic femur fractures. The current review discusses risk factors, presentation, and treatment of each of these complications.