Pre-operative Infection

What does it mean if doctor says tissues around hip surgery site are inflamed and steroids might be needed to bring inflammation down. and is this enough to impede mobility.

Comments for
Pre-operative Infection

Click here to add your own comments

Pre-operative hip infection
by: Dr Ahmad

Inflammation around the site of a joint means that the joint tissues have undergone certain biochemical changes resulting in stiffness, pain, tenderness, changes to the skin?s colour and swelling. These changes will lead to decreased mobility in the joint.
Inflammation occurs whenever there is tissue destruction. Possible causes are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (amongst other).
Inflammation may be a protective response to the damaged cells and tissues in the body.
If the inflammation is not brought under control it may result in permanent damage to the joint or lead to infection so all inflammations are treated using anti-inflammatory agents.
Use of steroids:
Steroids are very effective anti-inflammatory agents. They work by inhibiting the production of phospholipase A 2 which is the chemical substance known to cause inflammation. It also inhibits cyclo oxygenase enzymes and thus inhibits the production of chemical substances like prostaglandins and leukotrienes known to cause inflammation.
Of course steroids must be used with care as prolonged use is linked with avascular necrosis, osteoporosis and stomach ulcers.

Hope this helps
Dr Ahmad

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Your Questions