Total Hip Replacement Surgery
A hip replacement surgery can be recommended by your doctor if you find it extremely difficult to carry out any common activity like walking or getting in and out of a chair. Your hip may be stiff and you may feel uncomfortable even while resting.
When non-surgical treatment including medication, use of walking supports or modifications to lifestyle does not improve your condition, your doctor would recommend a hip replacement surgery, a very safe and effective procedure that can help you get back to enjoying your daily activities.
Arthritis is the most common cause of chronic hip pain disorders. Some of the forms of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic arthritis contribute mainly to hip disorders. Some infants too can be affected by this problem. Even though this might have been treated during childhood, there is possibility of it recurring again later.
The hip is one of the largest joints in the body, a ball and socket joint, in which the socket is formed by a part of the pelvic bone and the ball by the upper end of the femur (thighbone).
The bone surfaces are covered with cartilage, a flexible smooth tissue that cushions the ends of the bone. The hip joint is surrounded by a thin tissue called the synovial membrane that also generates a small amount of fluid to lubricate the joint. When the cartilage cushion is worn out due to wear and tear or due to an injury, the bones rub against each other causing the hip pain and stiffness. The total hip replacement surgery, also known as total hip arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure to replace the damaged cartilage with prosthetic components.
During the surgery, that may last from 1 to 2 hours, the surgeon will remove the damaged cartilage and tissue, while leaving the healthy parts of the joint intact. The hospital stay for the surgery for a few days will be followed by physiotherapy sessions as advised and in normal cases, you can resume simple normal activities within three to six weeks.