1. Community
  2. Operations and surgical procedures
  3. Hip Replacement

Has anyone had a fracture after total hip replacement?

Posted , 9 users are following.

sam417
sam417

I have a vasovagal response a couple of months ago, and passed out, and fell backwards.  My first concern was the hip replacement I had 4 months earlier, but the ER doctors weren't concerned at all, neither were the two doctors I saw after the ER.  I had a concussion and vertigo, and was very thankful there seemed to be no problem with my hip, even though it hurt.  As I have been recovering from the vertigo and head injury, my surgical leg has been hurting more and more, especially as I put more weight on it or stand for a longer time.  I started vestibular rehab this week for the vertigo, and the PT suggested I contact the doctor immediately to get xrays on my leg.  I had xrays today, and the ortho said the implant appears to still be intact with no movement, however, he is ordering a bone scan because he is suspecting I may have a femur fracture and possibly another fracture in the ilium crest.  

I'm wondering if anyone on this site has experienced anything like this, and if so, what the treatment was, other than just allowing healing time.  

2 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • kathee58019
    kathee58019 sam417

    Posted

    Sam,

     First of all, your picture looks like I feel!

     I haven't experienced what you are going through but I'm always in fear of something like this happening. Please come back and post your outcome. This

    site is so educational for people we could really use the info. I hope someone can answer your question for you. You sound like an American, but it is helpful to know what country a person lives in because the care they recieve can be quite different.

    Good luck,

    Kathee (U.S.)

    • kathee58019
      kathee58019

      Posted

      Sam,

       I found this info on a website orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00634 when I typed in periprosthetic fracture. There are also more details and pictures on the site. I have been concerned about the pain I am having 5 mo post op but I have not had any trauma.

        A periprosthetic fracture is a broken bone that occurs around the components or implants of a total hip replacement. It is a serious complication that most often requires surgery.

      Although a fracture may occur during a hip replacement procedure, the majority of periprosthetic fractures occur after a patient has spent years functioning well with a hip replacement. Fortunately, these fractures are rare. However, because more patients are having hip replacement surgery, the number of periprosthetic fractures is expected to increase.

      The treatment of these fractures is often challenging in large part because patients are older and may have thinning bone or other medical conditions.

      Good luck,

      Kathee

  • lee47625
    lee47625 sam417

    Posted

    Afraid not much help here except to say that bone scan is a very good idea. If there is a hard enough blow something often gives. So if hip is ok the pain may well be due to a fracture somwhere on upper femur. If that is indeed the problem I will pray that the iliium crest is ok; lets try for no more than one fracture at a time.

    I hope very much that there are no fractues, and that the vertigo is conquered quickly.

    let us know how you are doing . Lee

    • sam417
      sam417 lee47625

      Posted

      Thanks Lee!

      I'm also hoping there isn't a fracture.  I know nothing about fractures, and was quite surprised when the doctor said that is what he is suspecting.  If anything was wrong, I would have assumed it would have been an unstable implant.  I really didn't think I would be able to walk or stand on the leg with a fracture.  Is that possible to be able to walk with a fracture?  It is becoming more painful, each time I walk any distance or stand for very long.  I hadn't been on my feet much due to the terrible vertigo, so that's why I didn't have a problem early on.  I'm still surprised they didn't xray the hip in the ER.  They did a cat scan, but it didn't cover the femur.  I'm assuming it might be worse to have the ilium crest fractured, than the femur, but I don't know for sure.  I've been searching for answers, since they haven't called me yet to schedule a bone scan.  I have questions when they do call, but I am trying to see what the symptoms would be, and not finding any information on symptoms for a periprothetic fracture.

       

    • lee47625
      lee47625 sam417

      Posted

      Sometimes you can get a hairline fracture of the femur and pelvis that is not picked up on X-ray for days or even weeks. Of course the pain generally increases and a surgeon with a high level of suspicion wil use an MRI or CT to try to identify the problem. 

      Obviously you can't put a cast on your pelvis/ilium crest , and a hairline fracture may simply involve decrease in weight bearing to allow healing.That's about all I know offhand. Symptoms feel like possible broken hip😉.        Wishing you well!

    • brenda42969
      brenda42969 sam417

      Posted

      Sam, I had hip replacement surgery last August 31, 2015.  Surgery went great and rehab. was great.  On 10-22-15, I was on patio blowing some leaves off patio....I really felt great and felt like I could do anything but knew I should be careful.  Well, as careful as I was, I got twisted in the cord and fell.  I waited a minute to try and get up because it was concrete.  As I gradually started to get up and didn't feel anything;....I was finally up and felt fine.  I moved around to see if anything seemed to be hurting.  I felt fine.  I continued to do my at home health physical therapy at the time.  I told the therapist about my fall and that I didn't feel any pain and felt fine.  I also told the nurse that was coming also that I had fallen.  I continuing with the therapy as stated above....when I went to my surgeon on 10-22-15...it was at another clinic that he came to visit and didn't have the equipment for x-ray, etc.  I told him about the fall and how I felt and saw him at his regular clinic on 11-6-15.  It was at this time that he told me that I had a fracture and it was already healing. Since I never had any pain..I just knew that everything was fine and the surgeon didn't seemed to be disturbed since it was already healing.We did discuss at this time that I couldn't get my ability to walk properly yet.  I had to use a cane to walk straight and properly.  He said that it might be necessary for me to get an insert for my surgery side because the implant may have moved making my length a little different than the other foot and this was causing this walking problem.  With time it should go away and it takes about a year to totally get back to yourself.  I felt good about that and return to daily life.  I am not having pain in my hip but my walk has just become terrible and from knees down is severe pain.  The therapist thinks it is due to weak muscles since I was sick with colds, etc. during the months of January and February and just not getting back into a good physical therapy.  Plus I have gained 20 lbs during this time....I could !!!!! about that!!  Anyway, after reading what I have read online, I am starting to think that maybe all my pain is due to weak muscles and there is going to be pain with this.  I am going back to another surgeon (the one that did my surgery has moved) and requesting another C-T or whatever to be sure everything is still okay.  Not sure if this information helps or not.  Right now, it appears that I did have a fall and it did heal on its own....I hope this is true for me and that you do also....it seems like it may be possible.  Hope this information gives you some hope of happy outcome......Brenda
  • sam417
    sam417

    Posted

    Thanks Lee and Kathee.....Sorry Kathee, I didn't see your post until I just now came in to read.  I had already checked out the information on periprothetic fractures last week.  Not much information on fractures like this, other than the possibility of them happening during surgery, but can't find much on a break later after the surgery.  I still don't have an appointment scheduled for the bone scan.  He didn't tell me not to walk on the leg, so I wrote in here, basically to see if anyone else had experienced this, because I don't know if it's safe to walk or not.  They did a CT scan when I first fell, but it didn't cover the femur, and only the implant area.  I'm not sure if hairline fractures would show up on a CT scan or not, since they don't always show up on the xray, and can't be seen on the other side of the implant.  It happened 2 months ago, and I've been walking on the leg since it happened, with increasing pain when I'm on the leg for very long.  The ER doctors didn't seem concerned about the fact that I had a major fall with a new implant, but I was very concerned.  It's a little frustrating finding out 2 months later that it may be fractured.  Seems like even if it was fractured, it would have healed by now, so I'm wondering why having a bone scan will accomplish anything.
    • kathee58019
      kathee58019 sam417

      Posted

      Well Sam, Maybe the bone scan will show the reason for the pain. This page I gave you does talk about fractures other than during surgery so you may want to check it out. I know it must be frustrating and pretty scary. Please let us know what happens.

      Good luck,

      Kathee

  • julia45280
    julia45280 sam417

    Posted

    Sorry to hear about that. Sounds like good news from your surgeon and the pain will settle eventually. Maybe consider a bone density scan as well as a CT scan?

     

  • junegro
    junegro sam417

    Posted

    I had total left knee replacement July 18 of this year.  I was doing well for about a month then all of a sudden I got severe pain in my left knee (same on as the hip replacement) I can hardly walk.  I went to the Dr. (surgeon) that did the replacement and he looked at me like I was nuts and said everying is ok.  I then went to my family Dr. and am awaiting an appoint for a bone scan.  I have been on strong medss and they do nothing.  I have been in tears for 6 weeks and no help available.  I am hoping that the san shows something not that I want it to but why do I have this severe pain in the left knee on the side of it./  At times it swells and is hot.  I quit physio as it hurt even more and I don;t do it till I know what is wrong.  Anyone else having this issue and what have they done for you/  I am allowing heal time as you said but it i not working... Tomorrow I get the scan and after reading up on this a bone scan is needed.  i feel that an MRI is the true test that I need if this shows nothing.  Thanks for listening/// I am very frustrated and sad...
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.