What Is Total Hip Replacement Surgery?
Total hip replacement surgery is a procedure that replaces your damaged hip joint with an artificial one. The damaged bone and cartilage are removed, and some of the socket of your pelvis is cut away to make room for an implant stem. A metal ball at its center called an implant stem can be used to attach to a plastic liner (cup) or directly into bone if there’s enough healthy tissue remaining in your pelvis.
Who Can Benefit From Total Hip Replacement Surgery?
Total hip replacement surgery is a procedure that can be performed on patients who have severe osteoarthritis, bone deformity of the lower leg bone and pain and stiffness in other joints.
The following conditions may be considered for total hip replacement:
- Severe osteoarthritis where other treatments have failed to relieve symptoms. This includes people who are unable to walk or find it very difficult to do so because of their condition.
- Bone deformities such as congenital dislocation (where there has been an abnormal development of the hip joint) or slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). SCFE occurs when one side of your thighbone becomes loose while still growing – this can lead to pain and stiffness in your hip joint.”
Diagnosis of Total Hip Replacement Surgery
In order to determine if you are a candidate for total hip replacement surgery, your doctor will perform a physical examination and order imaging tests such as X-rays and MRI scans.
- Physical Examination: A physical examination is done to check for any abnormalities in the hip joint or surrounding muscles and ligaments. Your doctor will also assess how well your other joints are functioning before recommending surgery on one side of the body only (unilateral).
- Imaging Tests: X-rays can help detect bone damage caused by arthritis or other conditions that may require surgical treatment. An MRI scan can give more detailed information about soft tissues like cartilage in the hip joint and their surrounding muscles, tendons and ligants
Treatment Options for Total Hip Replacement Surgery
- Total Hip Replacement:
This is the most common procedure and involves replacing both sides of the hip joint. - Partial Hip Replacement: This is done when only one side needs to be replaced, such as when only one side has arthritis or damage from an injury.
- Reverse Total Hip Replacement: This surgery replaces the ball (femoral head) with an artificial ball and replaces the socket with an artificial socket that’s wider than normal so that it can accommodate a larger femoral head when you walk or run, which helps prevent dislocation of your hip joint in future years.
Recovery After Total Hip Replacement Surgery
Recovery after total hip replacement surgery is a long process. You should rest the affected area and use crutches or a walker for support. Physical therapy and occupational therapy are important parts of your recovery, as they help you regain strength and mobility. You may also need to take medication to reduce pain and swelling.
As you recover from total hip replacement surgery, it’s important to keep moving so that your muscles stay strong, which will make it easier for you to do everyday tasks like walking up stairs or bending down to pick something up off the floor.
It’s also important that you eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables; drink plenty of water; avoid smoking; maintain regular exercise routines (with guidance from a doctor); get enough sleep at night–about eight hours per night–and manage stress levels by taking breaks throughout each day.
Dr Kevin Lee is an orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore specializing in treating sports injuries of the lower limb, Hip & Knee Surgeries, Arthroscopic Surgery, and Cartilage Repair.
Let Dr Lee answer your questions regarding your knee injuries today. Contact us at +65 6737 0558 .