Hip Replacement Surgery

A damaged hip joint is replaced with an artificial rod or bone during hip replacement surgery, also known as hip arthroplasty. This surgery is typically required when there is significant pain or mobility issues in the hip joint, which frequently occurs as a result of arthritis trauma or other conditions.

To replicate the natural movement of a healthy hip, metal, ceramic, or plastic components are used to replace the damaged hip after surgery. Physical therapy is part of the recovery process to restore strength and mobility. By enabling people to move more freely, hip replacement can significantly lessen pain and enhance quality of life.

Surgeons perform more than ninety percent of hip replacement surgeries on persons over 50. Your doctor can recommend a hip replacement if hip pain or other problems affect your ability to stand, walk, or move.

Who is in Need of Hip Replacement?

Hip arthroplasty is recommended for people who have:

• Chronic hip pain
• Patients with bone-on-bone hip arthritis
• Individuals with severe joint stiffness
• Multiple joint arthritis
• People with advanced osteoarthritis
• Limited mobility
• Injury or fracture
• Other treatments failed

Types of Hip Replacement Surgery

Below are listed some types of hip replacement that people opt for depending on various circumstances.

• Total Hip Replacement: A prosthetic joint will be used by a surgeon to replace your entire hip. Your thigh bone’s top and the socket it rests in are replaced. Nearly every hip replacement is complete.
• Partial hip replacement (PHR): This procedure is also known as hemiarthroplasty. It preserves the hip socket while replacing only the ball. Usually done on elderly patients who have suffered a femoral neck fracture as a result of falls. For patients without severe arthritis, this is also less invasive than THR, requiring less time for surgery and a shorter recovery period.
• Hip resurfacing: A bone-preserving procedure that involves reshaping and metal-capping the femoral head and fitting a metal cup into the socket. For younger, more active patients who wish to preserve more natural bone, it works best. Despite being more technically complex, it offers a greater range of motion and preserves bone. It also reduces the chance of luxation. 
• Minimally invasive hip surgery: This approach reduces tissue damage by executing the same operations as traditional hip surgery but with smaller cuts. It is suitable for people who need less pain after surgery and a faster recuperation. However, the whole activity may be more complex, and not everyone is a candidate.

Benefits of Hip Replacement

Here are some advantages of this surgical procedure. These are listed below:

• Reduced pain
• Improved quality of life
• Enhanced mobility
• Regaining of Independence
• Long term benefits
• Faster recovery
• Chances of pain and discomfort are low.
• Make walking, climbing stairs, and engaging in other physical activities simple.

Potential Hazards of Hip Replacement 

• Blood clots
• Stiffness in joint
• Infection
• Dislocation of artificial joint
• Damage to nerves or  muscles
• Loosening or wear of the prosthesis

Procedure of Hip Replacement

• The lower part of the body is numbed with the help of anesthesia injection. It guarantees that throughout the operation, the patient stays calm and has no pain.
• To reveal the hip joint, the surgeon creates an incision, typically on the side or back of the hip. An alternate technique that is occasionally employed is the anterior approach or front of the hip.
• The surgeon will analyze the hip joint. And get rid of the thigh bone head from its socket in the pelvis.
• The damaged joint or arthritic bone and cartilage are removed by the specialist.
• Using a hemispheric reamer, the acetabulum is bent and made ready to accept the prosthetic socket.
• The reshaped acetabulum is inserted into the artificial socket. It is also known as the acetabular cup. Attached to the top of the femur, the ball is placed into the socket.
• To ensure correct alignment and range of motion, the surgeon examines how the prosthetic joint fits and moves.
• The joint is fastened in position after the last ball is placed.
• A waterproof dressing is provided after the wound is sealed. With the help of glue and dissolvable stitches.

Although everyone recovers differently from a hip replacement. Most of the patients are doing well three months following the process. Usually, improvements last for a year after this surgery.