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| FAQ
- Hips
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What
is a hip replacement?
A hip replacement involves a surgical procedure to replace
part or all of a diseased or damaged hip joint with an artificial
substitute—a prosthetic hip joint. The operation to replace
or mend a joint is known as 'arthroplasty'.
The aim of a hip replacement is to alleviate pain and restore
function in the hip joint. |
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Who
might be a candidate for hip replacement?
The most common
condition that results in the need for
hip replacement surgery is arthritis. Osteoarthritis, a
degenerative, joint disease that affects mostly middle-aged
and older adults, causes the breakdown of joint cartilage
and adjacent bone in the hips. Rheumatoid arthritis, which
causes inflammation of the synovial membrane and results
in excessive synovial fluid, can lead to pain and stiffness.
Traumatic arthritis, arthritis due to injury, can cause
damage to the articular cartilage of the hip.
Persons with severe degenerative joint disease may be unable
to do normal activities that involve bending at the hip,
such as walking or sitting, because they are painful.
Also, hip replacement is one method of treating a hip fracture.
A fracture is a traumatic event that may result from a
fall. Pain from a fracture is severe and walking or even
moving the leg is difficult.
Other conditions that may cause hip joint degeneration
and require hip replacement include infections and hip
deformities. |
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What
is the difference between standard hip replacement and resurfacing
hip replacement?
The traditional treatment of a patient that required a
hip replacement has been a stem-type replacement. The decision
to perform a hip resurfacing is determined by diagnosis,
the
age of the patient, the patient’s level of activity
and expectations. The resurfacing hip replacement offers
a long-term
outcome for young and active patients while saving bone for
later revision when necessary. This conservative approach
to hip replacement accounts for the popularity of the procedure. |
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How
is my new hip different?
You may feel some numbness in the skin around your incision.
You also may feel some stiffness, particularly with excessive
bending. These differences often diminish with time and most
patients find these are minor compared to the pain and limited
function they experienced prior to surgery.
Your new hip may activate metal detectors required for security
in airports and some buildings. Tell the security agent about
your hip replacement if the alarm is activated. |
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What
is the length of expectancy of the resurfaced hip?
The average expectancy ranges from ten to twenty years
depending upon the activity level of the patient. |
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What
are the complications of Hip replacement surgery?
Any surgery has risks. There are many risks associated with
Hip replacement surgery. However, in the hands of a well-trained,
dedicated orthopaedic surgeon, these risks should be quite
low.
The most common complication is blood clots in the legs.
The most serious complication is infection. The most important
long-term complication is loosening.
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