Hip replacement surgery

Hip replacement surgery is considered amongst the most successful operations in all of medicine. Since the early 1960s, improvements in surgical techniques and technology have tremendously increased the effectiveness of total hip replacement. Patients are able to go from being bedridden to walking freely without support within few days of surgery.

The most typical cause of long duration hip pain and functional disability is arthritis.

Osteoarthritis – age-related “wear and tear” kind of arthritis which normally occurs in people aged 50 years and above.

Rheumatoid arthritis – an autoimmune disease in which the synovial membrane becomes thickened and inflamed leading to damage of the cartilage, leading to pain and stiffness

Post-traumatic arthritis – following a serious hip injury or fracture where the cartilage may become damaged

Osteonecrosis – due to limitation in the blood supply to the femoral head causing the surface of the bone to collapse and resulting in arthritis

Childhood hip disease – infants and children with hip problems may cause arthritis later on in life as the hip may not grow normally

In hip replacement surgery, the damaged cartilage and bone is shaved and replaced by prosthetic parts.

• The deformed femoral head is taken out and replaced with an alloy metal stem that is placed into the middle of the shaft of the femur. This can be done either with or without “bone cement”.
• A metal or ceramic ball is attached to the upper area of the stem. This ball restore the deformed femoral head that was removed.
• The deformed cartilage of the socket (acetabulum) is reamed out and restored with a metal socket. The metal socket is held in place with bone cement or screws.
• A ceramic or plastic spacer is inserted between the socket and the new ball allowing for smooth gliding between the surfaces.

Surgery is recommended when patients have

• Hip pain that hinders everyday activities, such as bending or walking
• The hip pain persists while taking a break at night or during the day.
• Stiffness in a hip that restricts the ability to move or raise the leg
• Not enough pain relief from anti-inflammatory medications physical therapy, or walking aids.

The surgical procedure usually takes from 1 to 2 hours..

After surgery, you will be taken care of by specialised nursing team in the recovery room for several hours while your recovery is monitored. You will then spend next 3-4 days in the room where your further recovery is monitored by your doctor and physiotherapy team.

The success of your surgery will depend largely on how well you follow your physiotherapist’s and orthopaedic surgeon’s instructions regarding home care during the first few weeks after surgery.