Essential news for anyone considering joint replacement and post-op care.
People who undergo total hip replacement are at greatly increased risk for stroke in the first few weeks after their surgery.
A large new study showed hip replacement patients had a 4.4-fold increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke -- bleeding in the brain in the two weeks after surgery, compared to people in the general population.
They also had a nearly 4.7-fold increased risk of ischemic stroke from blocked blood flow to the brain during that time.
The Danish researchers found the risk of ischemic stroke stayed higher for six weeks after hip replacement and the risk for hemorrhagic stroke stayed higher for 12 weeks.
The study appears in the online journal, Stroke. #
