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Hip Replacement Surgery: Reasons, Type, and Risks Involved

It is important to choose a well qualified and experienced surgeon for hip replacement surgery.

By Arun SharmaPublished 4 years ago 5 min read
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Hip replacement surgery is a highly successful procedure. In the surgery, the hip joint is replaced with implants. Some patients require a total hip replacement, whereas for some partial replacement (hemiarthroplasty) is sufficient.

The hip replacement surgery is done when the hip is damaged due to fracture, arthritis, or when simple activities such as getting up from a chair or walking get extremely painful. When the medication doesn't help, and walking aids are of no use, the orthopedic surgeon advises hip replacement surgery so that patient can carry out his day to day tasks without any difficulty.

One of the largest joints of the body, the hip joint is a ball and socket joint. Articular cartilage covers the bone surface of the ball and the socket.

Causes of Hip Pain

The common causes of hip pain are:

Osteoarthritis

It is an age-related "wear and tear" type of arthritis. People who are above 50 years of age and older suffer from osteoarthritis. It happens when the cartilage cushioning the bones of the hip wears away, due to which the bones rub against each other, which results in hip pain and stiffness.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the synovial membrane becomes thick and inflamed. The chronic inflammation causes damage to the cartilage, which leads to pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is also termed as "inflammatory arthritis."

Post-traumatic arthritis

It can happen after a serious hip injury or fracture. The cartilage becomes damaged and causes hip pain and stiffness over time.

Osteonecrosis

Osteonecrosis happens when an injury to the hip, like a fracture or dislocation, limit the blood supply to the femoral head. It is termed as osteonecrosis. Limiting the blood supply may result in the surface of the bone to collapse, and arthritis will result.

Childhood Hip Disease

Some children have hip problems. Even when the problems are successfully treated during childhood, they may still cause arthritis later on in life.

Types of Hip Replacement Surgery

The hip replacement surgery has three major types:

1. Total Hip Replacement

2. Partial Hip Replacement

3. Hip Surfacing

Total hip replacement surgery is the most common type of hip replacement surgery. Damaged or worn-out sections are replaced with implants. A durable plastic cup replaces the socket. A ball made of metal alloy or ceramic replaces the femoral head. A new ball attached to a metal stem is inserted into the top of the femur.

Partial hip replacement is done in older patients, and only one side of the hip joint is replaced.

Hip resurfacing of the socket and the femoral head is done in younger patients.

There are two ways to perform hip replacement surgery. The surgery can be performed in a traditional way or with a minimally-invasive technique. The major difference between the two is the size of the incision. During the surgery, the patient is given general anesthesia that puts the patient into a temporary deep sleep. Anesthesia prevents the patient from feeling any pain during the procedure. A spinal anesthetic may be given in place of general anesthesia. The majority of the hip replacement surgeries performed today use the standard technique that requires 8 to 10 inches cut along the side of the hip.

Candidates for total hip replacement

There are no weight or age restrictions for the hip replacement procedure. The orthopedic surgeon makes the decision based on the patient's discomfort. The majority of patients who undergo hip replacement are between 50 to 80 years old. The surgery is performed successfully on patients of all age groups.

How Much Time Does It Take For Hip Replacement Surgery?

Normally it takes around one and a half hours for the procedure.

Does A Patient Have To Stay Overnight In The Hospital for Hip Replacement?

After the surgery, the patient has to spend one or two nights at the hospital.

How Fast Will The Recovery Be?

The rehabilitation starts within 24 hours after the surgery. After 24 hours, patients are encouraged to walk with a walking aid.

Risks Associated With Hip Replacement Surgery

The hip replacement surgery is safe, but there are risks associated with every surgery. There is a risk of infection with every surgery and risk of blood clots.

How Long Does The Hip Implants Last?

A hip replacement implant lasts between 10 and 20 years, and in some cases, it can last even longer. Results depend upon the age of the patient and the type of implants used.

Can Both Hips Be Replaced At The Same Time?

In the case of healthy patients who are below 75, both hips can be replaced at once. It is important that the patient should not have any heart problems.

What Is The Material Of Hip Implants?

Three separate implants are the stem, the ball, and the socket. The stem is made up of metal like cobalt-chrome or titanium and is inserted into the thighbone. The ball fits on top of the stem and is made up of ceramic or polished metal. The socket is a mixture of plastic liner and cobalt-chrome.

Will The Hip Implants Set Off The Metal Detector?

Today's metal detector machines will detect the metal in your hip, but they also identify it. You won't face any problem as the machine operator will know it's not something unauthorized.

When Can A Patient Resume Driving After Hip Replacement Surgery?

It will take most patients six weeks to resume driving after surgery.

How to Choose A Hip Replacement Surgeon?

It is important to choose a well qualified and experienced surgeon for hip replacement surgery. Orthopedic Surgery requires experience. Do your research before choosing an orthopedic surgeon for yourself. Clear any concerns beforehand. Check the success rate of hip replacement surgery in the facility that you choose. Do your research on not only the surgeon but the whole medical staff that will be responsible for your care. After the surgery, it's important for the patient to take the precautions told by the doctor that will help him heal faster.

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About the Creator

Arun Sharma

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