Infection Following Hip Replacement Surgery

Infections occur infrequently after knee replacement or hip replacement but are a complex issue if they happen. They are typically treated by a team of doctors including an orthopaedic surgeon, an infectious disease specialist, and the patient’s medical doctor. Bacteria are capable of attaching to metal or plastic implants and antibiotics alone are often not sufficient to cure an infection involving a joint replacement. Cure may require surgical treatment including removal of part or all of the replacement with insertion of a temporary spacer or implant. Most patients are placed on IV antibiotics for up to 6 weeks.

With the use of appropriate surgical management and a multi-disciplinary approach, many patients with joint related infections are successfully cured of their infection.

Penn State Bone and Joint Institute combines convenient services such as therapy, radiology, and prosthetics with our surgeon consultation areas. An integrated, multidisciplinary approach combines a team of dedicated physician assistants, orthopaedic nurses, anesthesia teams, and physical therapists to ensure a safe and appropriately brief hospital stay. Weekly joint replacement education classes prepare patients for their pre-operative, hospital, and rehabilitation experiences.

Why Choose Penn State Health for Care

Top-Ranked by U.S. News & World Report

Penn State Health includes the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, ranked as one of the best orthopedic providers in the country by U.S. News & World Report. This honor was earned because our doctors consistently deliver exceptional patient care and outcomes through their commitment to advanced treatments, translational research and provider training.

Coordinated, Specialized Care Through a Dedicated Institute

Our orthopaedic specialists work together through our dedicated Penn State Bone and Joint Institute. There, they focus on providing you with multidisciplinary, tailored care and state-of-the-art treatments and technologies. This produces the highest-quality patient outcomes. All physicians at the institute are fellowship-trained and subspecialize in additional niche areas of orthopaedics, including arthritis care and joint arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery).

Designated as a Blue Distinction® Center

Penn State Bone and Joint Institute is a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. This superior designation from BlueCross BlueShield is only given to health care facilities and providers that stand out for their expertise in delivering specialty knee and hip replacement care. Our surgeons specialize in a range of pain-relieving procedures, including partial knee replacement, total joint arthroplasty, joint preservation surgery and complex revision surgery. They perform more than 1,000 joint replacement procedures every year.

Confidence in Treatment Through Education

We developed a special joint replacement education website just for patients undergoing joint arthroplasty. The website takes you step by step through the joint replacement process. From things to consider before choosing surgery to recovery after surgery, you’ll find the information you need to help you feel confident in your decision to undergo joint replacement.

Advancing Orthopaedic Medicine Through Research

The doctors and researchers in our Center for Orthopaedic Research and Translational Science at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are committed to advancing our field through scientific discovery and education. As the only academic medical center in central Pennsylvania, Hershey Medical Center is a national leader in research, in partnership with Penn State College of Medicine, and on the leading edge of new treatment options, including clinical trials.

Support Groups

Support groups provide an opportunity to share your feelings and connect with other patients and caregivers who are experiencing similar struggles.

Learn more about support groups offered