Total Hip Replacement Surgery
What is a total hip replacement?
- This is a surgical procedure where the diseased cartilage and bone of a hip joint is replaced with a hip joint prosthesis (artificial hip components)
- The hip socket is replaced with an artificial socket.
- The hip femoral head is removed and replaced with a metal stem & head that is placed into the hollow of the femur.
- The artificial socket is called the acetabular prosthesis and the metal head and stem are called the femoral prosthesis
- Hip replacements can be cemented or uncemented.
- In cemented hip replacements the acetabular and femoral prosthesis is placed on to the bony surfaces with a bone cement called methylmethacrylate
- In uncemented hip replacements, the acetabular and femoral prosthesis has microscopic pores that allow the surrounding bone to grow onto the prosthesis.
- Your surgeon will discuss the pros and cons of uncemented and cemented prosthesis
Who is a candidate for Total Hip Replacement Surgery?
- The most common indication for total hip replacements is osteoarthritis of the hip causing progressive hip pain and loss of quality of life
- Osteoarthritis (diseased cartilage) of the hip may be associated with age or genetics - this is known as primary osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis (OA) can also be caused secondarily by other conditions:
- post-traumatic OA
- Congenital abnormalities of the hip e.g Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis (SUFE)
- Hip Avascular necrosis due to loss of blood supply to the hip
- Inflammatory arthritis e.g Rheumatoid or Psoriatic arthritis
- Infections e.g. Tuberculosis
- When the hip pain affects the patients quality of life (night pain, pain that prevents simple activities of daily living) the patient becomes a candidate for a total hip replacement
- Once a patient is a candidate for hip replacement careful consideration of medical conditions (such as heart and lung conditions) are made to ensure the patient is safe for the surgery.
- A Total hip replacement is an elective procedure. The decision to have a hip replacement done is an informed decision where the surgeon and patient discuss the risks and benefits of surgery, the surgical procedure and post-surgical rehabilitation and the anticipated long-term outcome of the surgery.
Quick Menu
- Hip Replacement Surgery
- What is total hip replacement?
- Who is a candidate for total hip replacement?
- What are total hip replacement complications?
- What preparation is needed for the procedure?
- What will recovery be like for the patient after surgery?
- What is involved in the rehabilitation process after total hip joint replacement?
- What other postoperative instructions are given to patients with total hip joint replacements?
- What is the prognosis of total hip joint replacement?
- Knee Replacement Surgery
- What is a total knee replacement?
- What patients should consider a total knee replacement?
- What are the risks of undergoing a total knee replacement?
- What is involved with the preoperative evaluation for total knee replacement?
- What happens in the postoperative period? What is involved in the recovery from surgery?
- How does the patient continue to improve as an outpatient after discharge from the hospital? What are recommended exercises?
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