Hip replacement surgery repairs a hip joint that has been damaged by injury or disease. It involves removing the head of the femur, or thigh bone, and replacing it with a man-made substitute. While the general surgical strategy involved in hip replacement is a constant, your needs as a patient and the preferences of your surgeon will determine the details of your procedure.
Deciding on Hip Replacement
You may be a candidate for hip replacement if you have serious hip pain or lack of mobility that hinders your ability to perform everyday tasks. Conditions that commonly lead to this degree of disability include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis), bone tumors, bone breaks and osteonecrosis, or death of bone tissue caused by an inadequate blood supply. Typically, you will make a decision on surgery with your doctor.
Surgery
Hip replacement is performed as an inpatient operation, which requires a hospital stay afterwards. The procedure requires either general or spinal anesthesia, and you will need to fast for a few hours prior to surgery. Once you're properly sedated, your surgeons will open up the side of your hip and expose the bone underneath. They will then cut away all diseased or damaged bone, as well as the cartilage lining the surface of the joint. Next they will insert an artificial, or prosthetic, socket made of metal, ceramic or plastic into the top of the remaining portion of your femur. If you're older or not very physically active, the surgeons will usually secure this socket with surgical cement. If you're young or athletic, the bottom of the socket may have an exterior surface designed to encourage new bone growth. Once they have this socket firmly in place, your surgeons will take a metal or ceramic prosthetic ball joint that copies the shape and function of your original bone and secure it inside the prosthetic socket.
Your surgeons may also choose to use a procedure called minimally invasive hip replacement, which uses a smaller surgical incision in an attempt to promote quicker healing and recovery. Be aware that the benefits of this procedure are unproven so far, and post-surgery complications may actually be more likely than with conventional replacement surgery. Consider discussing this possibility with your surgeon before the procedure.
Recovery and Potential Complications
After surgery, you will typically stay in the hospital for a number of days. During this time, you will be encouraged to walk and perform rehabilitative activities under the guidance of a physical therapist. You may also be fitted with a protective splint that will hold your hip in a good healing posture. Any pain you feel may be addressed through temporary use of medication.
Potential complications of hip replacement include blood clots in your pelvis or legs, bleeding, fracture of the remaining femur, and injury to your nerves or blood vessels. To prevent clotting, you may receive medication or be fitted with special leg coverings or support hose. You may also be taught exercises designed to promote proper circulation. Consult your doctor for the full details of hip replacement recovery.
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