Hip replacement when is it needed

In a healthy hip, soft-tissue called cartilage covers the ball and the socket to help them glide together smoothly. If this cartilage gets worn down or damaged, the bones scrape together and become rough. This condition, osteoarthritis , causes pain and restricts motion. An arthritic hip can make it painful to walk or even to get in or out of a chair.

If you have been diagnosed with hip arthritis, you may not need surgery. But, if these efforts do not relieve symptoms, you should consult an orthopedic surgeon. The most common type of hip replacement surgery is called a total hip replacement also called total hip arthroplasty.

In this surgery, worn-out or damaged sections of your hip are replaced with artificial implants. The socket is replaced with a durable plastic cup, which may or may not also include a titanium metal shell.

Your femoral head will be removed and replaced with a ball made from ceramic or a metal alloy. The new ball is attached to a metal stem that is inserted into the top of your femur.

Learn more about types of hip implants. Two other types of hip replacement surgeries are each generally appropriate for patients of specific age groups and activity levels:. X-ray of a total hip replacement showing the ball, socket and stem implants. To begin the operation, the hip replacement surgeon will make incisions on either the back posterior or front anterior of the hip. Both approaches offer pain relief and improvement in walking and movement within weeks of surgery.

There are certain steps patients can take both before and after surgery to improve recovery time and results. It is important to follow the instructions and guidance provided by your orthopedic surgeon, medical team and rehabilitation therapist.

Visit Preparing for Your Surgery to get information on preoperative hip replacement classes and patient education materials about joint replacement surgery. Most patients will stay in the hospital one or two nights after surgery. Some patients may be able have same-day hip replacement and return home after an outpatient procedure.

There is no rush to receive surgery. If you consider getting a cortisone shot for hip pain, try to avoid receiving it within three months prior to a hip replacement as it raises the risk of infection. Hip replacement surgery has become a common procedure. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately , hip replacements performed every year in the United States. Most people who receive hip replacements in the U.

However, not everyone who receives a hip replacement is over age Younger people who suffer from autoimmune diseases may develop hip arthritis much earlier in life. People who experience any sort of trauma to the hip—either due to athletic endeavors or something like a motor vehicle accident—may also require earlier intervention.

The patient again is side-lying, and the hip is approached through the side. The front portion of the hip abductor muscles gluteus medius and gluteus minimus are then removed from the greater trochanter to open up the hip joint. This approach classically has the lowest risk of dislocation ball coming out of the socket but does carry the risk of a persistent limp from weakness of the hip abductor muscles. Posterior surgical approach.

The posterior back , or traditional, approach involves the surgeon entering just behind the side of the hip bone. It has been the most commonly used approach to hip replacement for the last few decades and thus one that most surgeons are familiar with. Additionally, it can easily be extended to provide greater exposure of the pelvic bone and femur thigh bone. Because of this, the posterior approach is typically recommended over the anterior approach for revision surgeries.

Overall, the benefits of hip replacements are many. Patients often see improvements with:. Keep in mind that surgery is not automatically the first option. Be sure to speak with your health care provider about nonsurgical treatments as well. Many people are able to temporarily or permanently avoid surgery with the use of nonsurgical options. Significant joint damage caused by arthritis or other joint conditions can create inflammation, causing the cartilage to wear away.

Advanced cases of joint damage may make surgery necessary. The physical ramifications of hip joint pain are obvious, as it affects your ability to move and perform actions. Even if you can tolerate your level of hip pain, after dealing with this symptom over the course of months or even years, you may find yourself exhibiting the signs of a mental health condition.

In fact, chronic pain has been linked to both depression and anxiety. NSAIDs and other types of pain medication your doctor prescribes are relatively safe when used for a short amount of time. However, side effects can develop with prolonged use, including:.