Acute Varicella Zoster Reactivation After Bipolar Hip Hemiarthroplasty Case Report and Review of the Literature
Orthopedic Surgery and Trauma Journal·
- DOI
- 10.14744/ortst.2026.57654
- PMID
- —
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- —
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Kare Publishing
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The article describes postoperative herpes zoster as a potential diagnostic consideration in an older patient with acute pain after hip arthroplasty. It also reports that vaccination status was discussed in relation to higher-risk populations.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
To describe acute herpes zoster occurring after bipolar hip hemiarthroplasty and its diagnostic course.
Study design
A case report accompanied by a review of the literature. The reported diagnosis was made clinically; VZV IgG/IgM testing was not performed.
Population and setting
The report concerns a 73-year-old woman who underwent bipolar hip hemiarthroplasty for a femoral neck fracture and subsequently developed herpes zoster in the postoperative setting.
Main findings
Severe postoperative pain preceded vesicular lesions appearing on postoperative day 6 in the L1-L2 dermatomes, after which herpes zoster was diagnosed clinically. Oral acyclovir was followed by complete recovery without postherpetic neuralgia.
Public-health relevance
The article describes postoperative herpes zoster as a potential diagnostic consideration in an older patient with acute pain after hip arthroplasty. It also reports that vaccination status was discussed in relation to higher-risk populations.
Important limitations
This is a single case report, and laboratory serological confirmation was not performed. This summary is limited to the supplied single-article abstract and metadata; the original paper is required for decision-grade interpretation.
GIDS interpretation
The article is discoverable under varicella and zoster, with treatment and vaccination as associated topics. It provides case-level clinical context only and does not establish or confirm a live surveillance signal.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 8 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.