If my joint replacement gets infected what happens?

There is a slight risk of infection after any operation and joint replacement surgery is no exception. We take all precautions to prevent any chance of this complication occurring though unfortunately occasionally it does occur (less than 2% of the time).

If there is any sign of infection it is important to contact your doctor immediately so that we can diagnose and treat it quickly. If diagnosed quickly there is a better chance that the infection may be treated without involving surgery. Superficial (or minor) infections may be successfully treated with antibiotics alone. Deep (or major) joint replacement infections may need surgery to remove the infected joint replacement and replace the joint at a later time when the infection has been successfully treated.