Hip Joint Replacement

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), most people who have hip joint replacements are between ages 50 and 80. These surgeries are usually performed for arthritis of the hip. Arthritis is a disease that breaks down cartilage (the cushion between bones). Without cartilage, the bones rub against each other, which can cause severe pain.

A hip replacement may be used for three types of arthritis:

• rheumatoid arthritis — an autoimmune disease that leads to joint inflammation
• traumatic arthritis — damage to the joint caused by an injury
• osteoarthritis — a degenerative form of arthritis that’s most common in older adults

Doctors usually try to control arthritis discomfort with the use of walkers or canes, a low-impact exercise program, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. If these measures fail, a hip joint replacement is the best solution. You should consider a hip joint replacement if you can’t sleep or sit comfortably because of the pain, or if your arthritis limits your activities.

Hip replacements can also be used for other health conditions. For instance, they’re sometimes used if a tumor grows in the hip joint. Hip replacements may also be used in an emergency to fix a fracture in the hip joint or the thighbone. A condition called avascular necrosis of the hip often requires a total hip replacement.

The replacement hip is made up of four components:

• a metal socket
• a liner to help the ball move easily within the socket
• a metal or ceramic ball to replace the femoral head
• a metal rod used to stabilize the thigh bone to which the ball is attached

There are different options of joint prosthesis. Most surgeons use uncemented joint prosthesis, which allows bone to grow into the prosthesis over time.

A cemented prosthesis, on the other hand, is attached to the hip with bone cement for quicker adhesion. While both options have similar success rates, they have differences in terms of recovery.

Uncemented joints take longer to attach to the bone, so the recovery time is longer. Cemented versions, while quicker, are best used for older adults or for people who are not as active.

Another option to consider is a muscle sparing hip replacement. Unlike traditional hip surgery, this procedure spares cuts through the muscles, which reduces pain and recovery time.

Muscle sparing procedures are commonly performed through anterior or posterior. The main difference between anterior and posterior is the location of the incision. Anterior incisions are made in the front by the upper thigh, while posterior incisions are made in the back of the hip.

Educating yourself about hip replacement is crucial. Perhaps just as important is knowing how to choose the right surgeon for the job. Oftentimes, a general doctor will refer you to a surgeon. You might consider interviewing a few candidates on your own to find the right match. Consider asking:

• how many hip replacements they have conducted
• their overall success rate
• if they are open to muscle sparing replacements
• estimated recovery time
• if they will be involved with your aftercare

Unless you are having emergency hip replacement due to an accident, your surgery will likely be scheduled several weeks in advance. Your doctor will urge you to use the time to get into the best physical condition possible.

They may suggest that you lose some weight. You will also need to stop taking any medications, including blood thinners. During this time, you may also want to rearrange your living space to minimize having to walk long distances or up and down stairs. For example, you might consider:

• preparing meals in advance and freezing them
• placing everyday items within arm’s reach to avoid overexertion

You will not be able to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of the surgery. Hip surgery is done in a hospital operating room. After you check in at the surgery desk, a nurse will take you into a room to be prepared for surgery. You will take off your clothes and put on a hospital gown, and the nurse will start an IV in your hand, wrist, or arm. The IV allows you to receive fluids and medications during the surgery.

When it’s time for your operation to begin, you will be taken into the operating room. There, you may be given a general anesthetic or a medicine that makes you sleep through the surgery so you don’t feel pain.

If your surgeon believes that you have other health issues that might make general anesthesia difficult or risky (such as heart or lung conditions), they may recommend a localized or regional anesthetic. This is a small amount of medication injected into your spine that makes everything below your waist numb. Some people who receive a localized or regional anesthetic are also given sedatives to help them remain calm during the surgery.

The procedure takes anywhere from one to three hours.

You will wake up in a recovery room. The staff will monitor your vital signs and give you medicine for your pain. When they are sure that you are stable, you will be transferred to a room in the hospital.

Your hospital stay will last three to five days. The day after the surgery, a physical therapist will help you get up and take a few steps. Some people go home immediately after discharge from the hospital, although they continue to work with a physical therapist on an outpatient basis. Other people choose to go to a rehabilitation facility or a skilled nursing facility to receive additional care and inpatient therapy services.

It’s important to prepare for your recovery, so you are able to move about easier. For example, you might consider:

• having someone on hand to help you during the first few weeks of recovery
• arranging for someone to drive you to and from therapy appointments

Full recovery from a hip joint replacement takes about three to six months. A cemented joint prosthesis has the longest recovery time.

Hip replacements generally have high success rates. In fact, the AAOS has called the hip replacement “one of the most successful operations in all of medicine.” Most people who have the procedure report significantly less hip pain and a greater ability to perform daily activities.

The most common complication is dislocation of the new joint. This usually occurs in people who do not let themselves fully recover before resuming normal activities. It can also occur in people who do not follow instructions for caring for the hip after surgery. However, with newer prosthesis, hip dislocation is greatly reduced. Infections and blood clots are potential complications, but procedures can help prevent these from occurring.

Hip joints last many years, but high-impact activity or obesity may shorten their lifespan. Some people have to get a second hip replacement if the first one begins to deteriorate. With newer designs and materials, however, they may even last several decades.