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What is Total Hip Replacement (Hip Arthroplasty)?
A total hip replacement is a surgical procedure whereby the diseased cartilage and bone of the hip joint is surgically replaced with artificial materials.
Why do you need a hip replacement?
The aims of hip replacement are pain relief and improvement in hip function.
Hip replacement is usually considered only after other therapies, such as pain medications and physical therapy, have failed.
What conditions are commonly treated with hip replacement?
Total hip replacement is commonly used to treat:
- Joint failure caused by osteoarthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Traumatic arthritis
- Hip fractures
- Avascular necrosis
- Benign and malignant bone tumors And other less common conditions
How long will the new hip last?
The new hip joint is expected to last over ten years in 90% of patients.
The chance of hip replacement lasting 20 years or more is 80%.
What are the other types of hip replacement?
- Partial hip replacement
The hip is a ball and socket joint. Through disease or wear and tear, it can become damaged. If only part of the joint is damaged, a partial hip replacement may be an option.
In a partial hip replacement surgery, the hip socket is usually left intact. The head of the femur bone is replaced with an artificial component similar to that used in a total hip replacement. Sometimes a device is fitted over the bone which means the top of the femur does not have to be cut.
- Minimally invasive hip replacement
Minimally invasive hip replacement allows the surgeon to perform the hip replacement through one or two small incisions. Compared with the traditional hip replacement surgery, this technique may reduce the pain and speed up the recovery.
Minimally invasive hip replacement has not been practiced for long, so there are no reliable studies comparing it to the traditional method.
- Revision hip replacement
Artificial implants wear down over time, and may need to be replaced. Revision hip replacement surgery is a procedure to replace a worn out implant.
Revision hip replacements are more complicated then the first hip replacement and their outcomes are not as good. The risk of complications increases with each revision.
Duration of procedure/surgery:A total hip replacement surgery takes approximately two to four hours. Preperation can take an additional few hours.
Days admitted:You will usually be hospitalized for 4 to 6 days.
Anesthesia:General anesthesia, or spinal anesthesia (anesthetizes your body from the waist down)
Recovery:Recovery depends on your general health, age, and the outcome of the surgery.
Physical therapy is a very important factor in the overall outcome of hip replacement surgery, and will usually start as soon as possible after the surgery.
Risks:Serious complications occur in fewer than 2% of patients.
The mortality rate from hip replacement surgery is well below 1%.
Risks include:
- Blood clots.
- Infection.
- Fracture of the hip joint during surgery.
- Dislocation of the new joint.
- Loosening of your new joint over time, causing pain in your hip.
- Breakage of the prosthesis.
- Change in leg length.
- Joint stiffening: sometimes the soft tissues around your joint hardens, making it difficult to move your hip.
- Wear and tear over time.
Learn more about Hip Replacement