UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman is spending the weekend in a Columbus hospital after revealing that his hip replacement is dealing with a septic infection.
Coleman posted the news on Instagram on Thursday.
“Back in the hospital again,” Coleman said. “My hip is septically infected. They were going to do emergency surgery today, but I’m on blood thinners, so they’re going to have to wait until Monday. So I’m going to hang out here for the weekend. All’s going to be fine.”
Coleman has endured several hip replacement surgeries since his fighting career came to an end. Because hip replacements involve plastic or metal parts, bacteria is more likely to grow there with the body’s immune system sometimes struggling to battle back against those infections.
From the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons:
“It is difficult for the immune system to attack bacteria that make it to these implants. Bacteria like to stick to metal. Since the metal implant does not receive any blood flow, our immune system has a hard time identifying the bacteria, so it does not know how to respond and kill it. If bacteria gain access to the implants, they may multiply and result in a joint infection. Despite antibiotics and preventive treatments, patients with infected joint replacements often require surgery to cure the infection.”
As Coleman stated, he’s expected to go into surgery on Monday so doctors can deal with the infection in his hip.
The 59-year-old former UFC heavyweight champion has endured quite a year after he was hospitalized in March after rescuing his elderly parents from a house fire outside Toledo. Coleman saved his parents but ultimately succumbed to smoke inhalation while trying to rescue his dog from the house.
Coleman eventually recovered and lately he’s become a fixture at recent UFC events, including an appearance at the historic UFC 300 card in April where he placed the “BMF” title around Max Holloway’s waist after his win over Justin Gaethje.
