Health podcast “In parentheses”: hip prosthesis

Each year in Switzerland, 2 to 5% of operated patients develop an infection of the operating site.

If most of these infections are mastered, some take an unexpected turn, transforming the consequences of surgery into a real obstacle course.

In this 30^e Episode, we will discover the exceptional, and fortunately rare history, of Alain* whose post-operative path has been punctuated by multiple complications.

It all started well with a first hip prosthesis posed twenty years ago.

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Ce 30^e Episode of Parenthesis presents the poignant story of Alain*, a patient who crossed a long and difficult course following post-operative infections. After a first successful hip prosthesis twenty years ago, Alain* had to face multiple complications after the installation of a second prosthesis, resulting in a series of reinterventions and infections. Alain* underwent 27 interventions and spent 450 days in the hospital during six years of “Calvary”.

Post-operative infections, although rare, can transform a standardized surgical process into a real obstacle course. Professor Olivier Borens explains that infections sometimes occur despite a low initial risk, especially in the event of successive reoperation which increases this risk. Once a prosthesis is infected, it must be removed, because it can no longer be sterilized.

Alain* has crossed several treatments, including surgical cleansing and intensive antibiotic, but complications have persisted. His experience highlights the deep impact of infections on quality of life, affecting not only physical health, but also professional and personal life, sometimes provoking depressions comparable to those of serious chronic diseases.

Despite these difficulties, the risk of infection for a hip prosthesis remains low and the benefits of the operation for the quality of life of patients justify this risk.

This summary was generated with the support of artificial intelligence and verified and reread by our team.