Hip Replacement Surgery
This page on HealthMBA.com is about the surgical procedure of a partial or full replacement of the hip to restore mobility and reduce pain in damaged bone and cartilage. Doctors will recommend exercise, drugs, and other non-invasive therapy first before moving to surgery. This article explains the surgery and the materials used, as well as the importance of follow-up to ensure that the body heals properly.
Hip replacement surgery is a prospect that many of us face as we grow older. The body works hard throughout a lifetime, and the bone structure of the hips is at the center of most of what we do. The hips connect the spine through strong joints to the bones (femur) in the legs, and from arthritis or simple wear and tear the joints and cartilage in the hips wear down to become painful and inoperable. After years of hard work and absorbing all of the impact of our busy lifestyle the hips can wear down. At a certain point beyond any drug and dietary treatment it may be necessary to perform a partial or total hip replacement surgery, known as arthroplasty. In this surgical procedure the diseased or worn down joints and bones from the hip are removed and replaced with artificial replacements. This usually restores mobility and reduces or eliminates the pain from the hips that had afflicted the patient before.
The main reason why hip replacement therapy becomes necessary is to repair the damage to the hips from osteoarthritis, where the joints wear down and becomes painfully inflamed, as well as other degenerative diseases and injuries to the hips. The first treatment will usually be the an exercise program to strengthen the muscles and joints, or the aid of a walking stick along with medications (steroids) for the swelling and pain. The surgical procedure can be very invasive and even risky, so doctors to not recommend it lightly. For a partial replacement the surgeon open the hip area, removes the diseased and damages bone and cartilage and places new, artificial replacement parts in place. This very sturdy material again allows a wide range of motion and holds up for an almost normal level of activity again. For a full hip replacement the surgeons perform a much more extensive and invasive procedure, completely dislodging the hip from the connecting joints and placing a new structure in its place.
The replacement parts are either bonded with a kind of "cement" or glue, or they are made so that the bone can integrate and bond to the artificial material. After surgery the patient will be immobilized for an amount of time in order for the new parts to set and become integrated. The patient will then work with a physical therapist to learn how to move with the new hip and to watch closely that it is healing properly. Certain problems can occur after the procedure, such as an incompatible fit with the new joints, and the body's rejection of the artificial materials. Follow up surgery is not very common, but it is important to track the progress of healing and the body's reaction to the procedure. Techniques and materials for hip replacement are continually improving, but it is still not a permanent solution to degenerated or diseased hips. The replacement generally has an expected lifetime of ten years as the parts wear out and the natural connective tissues continue to wear out. For some it is necessary to repeat the replacement after a number of years.
