Hip Replacement Surgery

If your hip has been damaged by arthritis, a fracture, or other conditions, common activities such as walking or getting in and out of a chair may be painful and difficult. Your hip may be stiff, and it may be hard to put on your shoes and socks. You may even feel uncomfortable while resting.
If medications, changes in your everyday activities, and the use of walking supports do not adequately help your symptoms, you may consider hip replacement surgery. Hip replacement surgery is a safe and effective procedure that can relieve your pain, increase motion, and help you get back to enjoying normal, everyday activities.

Common Causes of Hip Pain

The most common cause of chronic hip pain and disability are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Post-traumatic arthritis, Avascular necrosis (also commonly referred to as “osteonecrosis”) , Childhood hip disease

Is Hip Replacement Surgery for You?

The decision to have hip replacement surgery should be a co-operative one made by you in full consultations with your family, your primary care doctor, and your orthopedic surgeon. The process of making this decision typically begins with a referral by your doctor to an orthopaedic surgeon for an initial evaluation.

When the Surgery Is Recommended?

People who benefit from hip replacement surgery often have:

• Hip pain that limits everyday activities, such as walking or bending
• Hip pain that continues while resting, either day or night
• Stiffness in a hip that limits the ability to move or lift the leg
• Inadequate pain relief from anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, or walking supports

Pre Surgery Orthopedic Evaluation

An evaluation with an orthopedic surgeon consists of the following:
Medical history, Physical examination, X-rays, Other tests. Occasionally other tests, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, may be needed to determine the condition of the bone and soft tissues of your hip.

Realistic Expectations

Most people who undergo hip replacement surgery experience a dramatic reduction of hip pain and a significant improvement in their ability to perform the common activities of daily living.

With normal use and activity, the material between the head and the socket of every hip replacement implant begins to wear. Excessive activity or being overweight may speed up this normal wear and cause the hip replacement to loosen and become painful. Therefore, most surgeons advise against high-impact activities such as running, jogging, jumping, or other high-impact sports.
Realistic activities following total hip replacement include unlimited walking, swimming, golf, driving, hiking, biking, dancing, and other low-impact sports. With appropriate activity modification, hip replacements can last for many years.

Steps in Planning Total Hip Replacement Surgery

1. Medical Evaluation
2. Medications & Weight loss: Inform your orthopedic surgeon about the medications you are taking. Accordingly, the doctor will advise on the course of medications you should stop taking and that can continue to take before surgery.
3. Dental & Urinary Evaluation

Process:

• In a total hip replacement (also called total hip arthroplasty), the damaged bone and cartilage is removed and replaced with prosthetic components. The damaged femoral head is removed and replaced with a metal stem that is placed into the hollow center of the femur. The femoral stem may be either cemented or “press fit” into the bone.
• A metal or ceramic ball is placed on the upper part of the stem. This ball replaces the damaged femoral head that was removed.
• The damaged cartilage surface of the socket (acetabulum) is removed and replaced with a metal socket. Screws or cement are sometimes used to hold the socket in place.
• A plastic, ceramic, or metal spacer is inserted between the new ball and the socket to allow for a smooth gliding surface.

Recovery

The success and recuperating post surgery shall depend in large measure on how well you follow your orthopedic surgeon's instructions regarding home care during the first few weeks after surgery. Please speak with your Healthcare Team.

Possible Complications

The complication rate following hip replacement surgery is low. Serious complications, such as joint infection, occur in less than 2% of patients. Major medical complications, such as heart attack or stroke, occur even less frequently.

However, chronic illnesses may increase the potential for complications. Blood clots in the leg veins or pelvis are one of the most common complications of hip replacement surgery.
Sometimes after a hip replacement, one leg may feel longer or shorter than the other. Your orthopedic surgeon will make every effort to make your leg lengths even, but may lengthen or shorten your leg slightly in order to maximise the stability and bio-mechanics of the hip. Nerve and blood vessel injury, bleeding, fracture, and stiffness can occur. In a small number of patients, some pain can continue or new pain can occur after surgery apart from hip.

Avoiding Problems after Surgery

Keep a watch on Warning signs of blood clots, such as :

• Pain in your calf and leg that is unrelated to your incision
• Tenderness or redness of your calf
• New or increasing swelling of your thigh, calf, ankle, or foot Warning signs of pulmonary embolism i.e. that a blood clot has travelled to your lung include:
• Sudden shortness of breath
• Sudden onset of chest pain
• Localised chest pain with coughing
• Preventing Infection

Why India?

India is becoming the most preferred healthcare destination globally.
The superlative medical treatment provided by the skilled doctors in world-class infrastructure at nearly one third the cost compared to Western Europe, North America and some Southeast Asian countries adds up to India’s credentials.
Hip replacement surgery is one of the most successful operations done in India credit to Improvements in joint replacement surgical techniques and technology that have greatly increased the effectiveness of total hip replacement.
Hip Replacement Surgery in India is performed through cutting- edge clinical solutions, research, extraordinary patient care and infrastructure of world-class standards. Hip replacement surgery is a complex surgical exercise and needs highly skilled consultants, ingenious technical staff and advanced technology working with perfect harmony, enormous dedication and team work. India offers a one stop solution for all those seeking critical procedures such as Hip Replacement Surgery.