What you need to know about Hip Replacement Surgery?
Hip replacement surgery involves replacing a damaged hip joint with an artificial one (known as an implant). Hip replacements can be done at any age based on the patient’s condition, but it is mostly advised to elder adults aged between 60-80 years when medical management and other treatments plan aren’t effective in treating hip pain.
What is Hip Replacement?
A hip replacement, also called arthroplasty, relieves hip pain through surgery. By replacing parts of the hip joint with artificial implants, the surgery helps to restore the function of the hip joint. A Hip replacement surgery can be of two types, total hip replacement or partial hip replacement. A hip replacement surgery involves the replacement of either both or one of the parts of the hip based on the severity of patient’s condition.
Signs and Symptoms for Hip Replacement:
Major signs that need hip replacement are:
- - Hip Stiffness
- - Increased hip pain
- - Swelling in hip joint
- - Limited range of movement
Your doctor may also recommend hip replacement if you have the above signs as a result of below-mentioned conditions, such as:
- - Injury in hip joint
- - Tumour in the hip joint
- - Osteoarthritis
- - Rheumatoid arthritis
- - Osteonecrosis
How do you know if you need a hip replacement?
When your quality of life gets affected due to hip pain, and if it doesn’t get better with medical management and other non-surgical treatment plans, it is time to consider hip replacement. Signs of declining quality of life due to hip pain include:
- - Restlessness because of pain
- - Difficulty in doing regular activities
- - Swelling and tenderness of hip
- - A feeling of instability in your hip joint
Types of Hip Replacements
There are three major types of hip replacement surgery which are mentioned in detail below:
1) Total hip replacement
Total hip replacement is a major medical procedure. It is also known as total hip arthoplasty. In this procedure, damaged bone and cartilage are removed and are replaced with prosthetic components. A replacement metal stem is inserted into the hollow center of the femur to replace the damaged femoral head.
2) Partial hip replacement
Partial hip replacement (also called hemiarthroplasty) involves replacing only one side of the hip joint – the femoral head – instead of both sides as in total hip replacement. This procedure is most commonly done in older patients who have fractured hip.
3) Hip resurfacing
The hip is a ball and socket joint. A hip resurfacing procedure involves trimming the damaged bone and cartilage of the ball and socket. Then a smooth metal cap on top of the trimmed thighbone is placed and a metal shell goes into the hip socket.As a result, these two metal components move together and help to ease the hip pain and stiffness, by increasing the fluid movement.
How long does a Hip replacement surgery take?
The average hip replacement surgery lasts about two hours. There may be less time required for a partial hip replacement, while it may take longer for a double/bilateral hip replacement.
The surgery time might also be extended if complications arise during surgery. The surgeon may recommend imaging tests, such as an X-ray, immediately after the procedure and during recovery to ensure that the surgery was successful.
After Hip Replacement
Hip replacement recovery starts right away after the surgery. You will be encouraged to get up and move around as soon as possible after surgery. Patients who don’t have other health conditions can go home as soon as they demonstrate that they can walk, climb stairs, and get in and out of a car.
A rehabilitation unit can prepare patients for independent living at home. Physical therapy after surgery is essential until you regain muscle strength and range of motion, regardless of whether you are at home or in a rehabilitation unit.
The surgeon and physical therapist can advise you on when to walk without assistance, and how to manage your pain. The provider will discuss your rehabilitation needs, to make your recovery process faster. Your motivation and cooperation in completing the physical therapy are critical for an effective recovery process and overall success of the surgery.
Discuss the Best Approach With Your Doctor
The surgical approach your doctor will recommend depends on several factors, including how the surgeon can gain access to the hip, the type of the implant required and how it will be attached, and your age and activity level, along with the shape and health of the hip bones. The likelihood of future surgery also figures into the decision, because some surgical approaches and types of implant attachment can make a revision surgery easier or more challenging.
As a part of the evaluation for surgery, your orthopaedic surgeon will discuss the options of hip replacement which includes minimally invasive or a traditional surgery, as well as how he is planning to perform the surgery, what type of implant to be used, what to expect after surgery and the recovery process.