What is hip replacement?

Hip replacement is a surgical procedure to relieve pain and disability caused by severe hip damage brought on by osteoarthritis or injury or AVN. Osteoarthritis causes your joints to degenerate, leading to swelling, pain and reduced motion. It can limit your everyday activities and make it hard to walk or climb stairs. During this procedure, the surgeon will remove damaged bone and cartilage in your hip joint and replace them with prostheses. People who have shown little to no response to anti-inflammatory medicine, exercise and physical therapy are candidates for hip replacement surgery.

Why is hip replacement performed?

Hip arthertis can be very disabling and causes great difficulty even in activities of daily living.Hip replacement surgery is conducted to treat the disability and pain in the hip. It is recommended during any of the following cases:

• If the patient has long-term osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
• If the patient has suffered an injury to the hip such as a fracture or broken bones due to an accident or fall
• If other forms of treatment such as anti-inflammatory medication, pain medication, physical therapy or the use of assistive devices has been unsuccessful
• If the hip bone has undergone Avascular necrocis

What happens during this procedure?

A hip replacement surgery is performed under regional / general anaesthesia . An incision is made along the hip to allow access to the affected joint and bone. There are four basic steps in a hip replacement procedure.

• The affected femoral head is removed and replaced with a prosthetic metal stem which is inserted into the femur’s hollow centre
• A ceramic or metal ball is placed on top of the stem and is meant to replace the damaged femoral head
• The surface of the damaged cartilage inside the socket is removed and replaced with a metal component. The new socket is held in place with cement or screws
• A ceramic, metal or plastic prosthesis is inserted between the resurfaced socket and new ball to create a smooth gliding surface

After recovery, the patient is advised to undergo physical therapy to ensure that their new hip joint is functioning optimally. Strengthening exercises and physical activity is a must so that use of the hip joint is regained. Talk to one of our expert orthopaedic doctors for more details on hip replacement surgery and its benefits.