Patients with Mental Illness Fare Worse after Hip Surgery

People with mental illness may be more likely to have weaker immune systems, more body fat and diabetes, all factors that can have impair healing from surgery, Marks, who was not involved in the study, told Reuters Health by email.

Treating psychiatric disorders could help reduce the risk of postoperative complications, Marks added.

“Patients with these conditions can still have a total hip replacement and achieve excellent relief from their arthritis pain. However, they should know that the rates of problems after surgery might be higher,” Klement noted.

“Patients should do their best to make sure all of their medical issues are under control and practice healthy exercise and eating habits in the months before their surgery,” Klement said.