Can patients with diabetes undergo Hip Replacement Surgery?
Patients with diabetes can indeed undergo this surgery provided their blood sugar is maintained within acceptable limits. Such patients may need to be put on insulin immediately before and immediately after surgery to achieve better control of their blood sugar levels. Patients with diabetes have a slightly higher risk of infection and wound healing problems. However when appropriate preventive measures are taken such complications can be avoided.
Is it necessary to give blood transfusion to a patient during or after Surgery?
The need for blood transfusion depends upon the patient’s pre-operative hemoglobin and the amount of blood loss occurring during surgery and after surgery (through the drainage tubes). The patient’s hemoglobin is checked after surgery to quantify the amount of blood loss and decide on the need for giving blood. Generally speaking, for most patients with normal hemoglobin undergoing unilateral (one side) hip replacement and an average blood loss, there is no need to give blood. Patients undergoing bilateral (both sides) hip replacement at the same time or within a space of a few days will usually need one or more blood transfusions.
Can both Hips be Replaced at the same time?
When patients have severe pain in both the hips requiring surgery, this can be done at the same time (simultaneous THR) or after an interval time between two surgeries (staged THR). Patients who are in good health and medically fit can be considered for bilateral simultaneous THR at the same sitting. Patients who are older with some co-existing medical conditions may have to be operated with some time interval between the two surgeries. This time interval may vary from a few days or few weeks depending on individual circumstances.