What Can I Expect With Total Hip Replacement Surgery?

Total hip replacement surgery was first undertaken in the 1960's. Since then the procedure has been refined. With the development of technology implants too are becoming more effective and longer lasting. Today total hip replacement is a popular procedure and is looked upon as one of the most significant developments in the field of surgery.

Doctors recommend total hip replacement surgery to patients living with a painful and damaged hip joint. The damage could have been caused by medical conditions like arthritis or hip dysplasia or it could be the result of an accident or injury.

Before surgery is recommended however attempts are made to treat the condition with medication and exercise. Sometimes the problem may be solved simply by using a cane or walker to move around. It is only if the damage is severe and interferes with normal day-to-day activities that the patient is encouraged to consider replacing the damaged hip with an artificial one.

Total hip replacement surgery is performed under either general or spinal anesthesia. In the first instance the patient is put to sleep throughout the operation and a machine helps in breathing. In the second, the body is immobilised from waist down and the patient breathes normally. The anaesthetist evaluates the patient before the surgery and helps decide which option is most suitable.

The surgery itself takes a few hours. During it the damaged parts of the hip are removed and replaced with artificial implants. The implant consists of a ball which replaces the head of the femur or thigh bone and a socket into which the ball is fitted so that it can glide smoothly.

Today a variety of materials are used to make the implants. While a combination of metal and plastic remains the most popular, ceramic and metal implants are also used. Scientists are constantly experimenting with the design and composition of the implants in order to make them more effective.

Once the implants are inserted into the body they can be held in place in two ways. Some surgeons prefer to use bone cement which acts as an adhesive and fixes the implant to the bone. Others find biological fixation more effective. In this method the natural bone is allowed to grow into the porous surface of the implant and hold it in place. A combination of the two methods, called a hybrid hip replacement, is also in use.

The benefits of a total hip replacement surgery are many. The pain and joint stiffness that the patient lived with earlier are reduced considerably. The hip joint too improves its functioning and thus increases the range of movements that the patient can undertake. He or she is now able to do much more than previously.

After the surgery, the patient will need to always be conscious that an artificial hip is not as sturdy as a natural one and take precautions accordingly. And though life will not be exactly the same as when the original hip was intact, it will definitely be better than living with a damaged hip.