Leg swelling one month after hip replacement surgery

Leg swelling one month after hip replacement surgery may be caused by prolonged standing, blood clots, or soft tissue swelling. The specific causes are analyzed as follows:

1. Prolonged Standing

After hip replacement surgery, doctors generally recommend bed rest because the muscle strength and vascular tone of the lower limbs tend to weaken post-surgery. When a patient stands or walks, venous return in the legs may become impaired, leading to leg swelling. In such cases, getting adequate rest and maintaining good blood circulation usually helps alleviate symptoms.

2. Blood Clot

Remaining bedridden for extended periods after surgery, along with factors affecting venous flow, can lead to blood clot formation, resulting in limb swelling. For this condition, medications such as warfarin tablets or rivaroxaban tablets may be taken as prescribed by a doctor to improve the situation.

3. Soft Tissue Swelling

After surgery, damage to muscles, ligaments, and surrounding tissues may trigger inflammatory responses and fluid accumulation, causing limb edema. If leg swelling is severe, medications such as diosmin tablets or horse chestnut extract (e.g., Venoruton) may be used under medical guidance to reduce swelling.

In addition, swelling could also result from trauma, post-surgical bruising, wound infection, or other factors. Patients experiencing any of the above symptoms should promptly inform their doctor and work with medical professionals to select an appropriate treatment plan for effective management.