TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT

Hip Replacement Surgery

Are you suffering from a painful joint condition as a result of arthritis of the knee to a fracture of the hip?

Yanhee International Hospital delivers exceptional orthopedic solutions to get rid of pain and reestablish ease of movement.

The treatments we offer vary from non-surgical to complex reconstructive surgeries using advanced techniques.

The ultimate measure of our success is our patient’s ability to return to activities that they love and their enduring joint health, possibly thirty years after getting a replacement knee or hip.

Who needs hip replacement surgery?

Individuals with hip joint problems that create pain and interferes with normal movements in spite of treatment are possible candidates for hip replacement surgery.

Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of this kind of problem. But other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteonecrosis, and injury, fracture, and bone tumors can lead to the breakdown of the hip joint and the necessity of hip replacement surgery.

At one time, physicians limited hip replacement surgery mainly for people over 60 years of age as they were thinking that older people are generally less active and would put less stress on the artificial hip than do younger people.

Today, however, physicians have found that hip replacement surgery can be very successful in younger people also. Fresh technology has made better the artificial parts, enabling them to endure more stress and strain and lasts longer.

At present, an individual’s general health and activity level are more valuable than age in predicting hip replacement’s success.

For instance, individuals who have chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, or conditions that lead to extreme muscle weakness, will be more prone to injury or dislocate an artificial hip compared to individuals without chronic conditions.

Individuals who are at high risk for infections or in poor health are more unlikely to recover successfully.

These patients may not be good candidates for hip replacement surgery.

Recently available test results equally show that individuals who choose to have the surgery before joint deterioration takes place to tend to recover more quickly and have better results.

What Does Hip Replacement Surgery Involve?

The hip joint is situated where the upper end of the femur (thigh bone) meets the pelvis (hip bone). A ball at the end of the femur, called the femoral head, corresponds to a socket (acetabulum) in the pelvis to enable a wide range of motion. Please refer to the figure below.

At some point in a traditional hip replacement, which can last from 1-2 hours, the surgeon creates a 6-to-8-inch incision over the side of the hip through the muscles and removes diseased bone tissue and cartilage from the hip joint, and at the same time keeping the healthy parts of the joint untouched. Next, the surgeon replaces the head of the femur and acetabulum with new, artificial parts.

The brand-new hip is constructed of materials that permit a natural gliding motion of the joint.

Over the last 10 years, several surgeons started doing what is called a minimally invasive, or mini-incision, hip replacement, which needs smaller incisions and shorter recovery time than traditional surgery. Prospects for this kind of surgery are generally age 50 or younger, of normal weight based on body mass index and healthier compared to prospects for traditional surgery.

Whether you get traditional or minimally invasive surgery, the parts used to replace the joint are the same and appear in two general types, cemented and uncemented.

Cemented parts are attached to the available healthy bone with unique glue or cement. Hip replacement making use of these parts is called a cemented procedure.

Uncemented parts make use of a process called biologic fixation, which supports them in place. This indicates that the parts are designed with a porous surface that permits your own bone to grow into the pores and hold the parts in place. At certain times a surgeon uses a cemented femur part and uncemented acetabular part. This combination is called a hybrid replacement.

In a total hip replacement (hip arthroplasty), the defective bone and cartilage are taken out and replaced with prosthetic components.

• The defective femoral head is removed and replaced with a metal stem that is positioned into the hollow center of the femur. The femoral stem may be either cemented or “press fit” into the bone.
• A metal or ceramic ball is placed on the top part of the stem. This ball replaces the defective femoral head that was removed.
• The defective cartilage surface of the acetabulum (socket) is removed and replaced with a metal socket. Screws or cement may be used to secure the socket in place.
• A plastic, ceramic, or metal spacer is positioned between the new ball and the socket to allow a smooth gliding surface.

The most frequent source of chronic hip pain and disability is arthritis. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and traumatic arthritis are the best-known kinds of this disease.

• Osteoarthritis is an age-related “wear and tear” form of arthritis. It general sets in people 50 years of age and older and usually in people who have a family history of arthritis. The cartilage padding the bones of the hip wears away. The bones then rub against one another, resulting in hip pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis may also be brought about by slight abnormalities in how the hip developed in childhood.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the synovial membrane gets irritated and inflamed and eventually thickens. This longstanding inflammation will damage cartilage, producing pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most prevalent type of a group of conditions called inflammatory arthritis.
• Post-traumatic arthritis result from a severe hip injury or fracture. The cartilage can be damaged and causes hip pain and stiffness with time.
• Avascular necrosis. When the blood supply to the femoral head is compromised, the surface of the bone may collapse and arthritis results. Injuries to the hip, like a dislocation or fracture, disrupt the blood supply to the joint. Certain diseases may also induce avascular necrosis.

Childhood hip disease. A number of infants and children have hip problems. Even if the problems are taken care of, they may still trigger arthritis later in life. This occurs because the hip may not develop normally and the joint surfaces are affected.

How Your New Hip Is Different

You will feel a certain amount of numbness in the skin around the incision. You will also feel some stiffness, especially with excessive bending. These issues usually disappear with time and almost all patients find these are small in contrast to the pain and restricted functionality they experience before the surgery.

Your new hip can potentially activate metal detectors necessary for security in airports and some buildings. Inform the security agent about your hip replacement if the alarm is triggered. You can request for a card confirming you have an artificial hip from your surgeon.

Safeguarding Your New Hip

There are several things to do to safeguard your hip replacement and prolong the life of your hip implant.

• Become involved in a regular light exercise program to promote adequate strength and mobility of your new hip.
• Have in place specific precaution measures to prevent falls and injuries. If a bone is broken in your leg, you may need more surgery.
• See your surgeon regularly for follow-up exams and x-rays even if replacement appears to be doing fine.

Take the first step and contact us through our no-cost virtual consultation. During this process, we will recommend options that will work best for you. Every client is different, so our virtual consultants and surgeons tailor the procedure to match each person’s needs.