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• Nov 13, 2019

Hip Replacement Surgery: Purpose, Procedure, Risks, and Recovery

Overview

Doctors or Surgeons carry out surgery on any part of the body if it is not in proper function. The cause for the same can be an accident, breakdown of the nerve or muscle due to injury or it can be due to arthritis. Arthritis is the condition of the acute pain in a part of the body when pain is not curable by medicines or any therapies, the solution for the same is surgery. The same is the concept for Hip Replacement Surgery.

What Is Hip Replacement Surgery?

Hip Replacement Surgery is a procedure in which a doctor replaces a part of a hip joint or complete hip that is in the painful condition. Replacement is done by using the artificial hip joint that is either made of metal or plastic. The artificial hip joint is known as Prosthesis.

The technique of Hip Replacement Surgery is in practice for the last 7 decades. It is highly effective and offers considerable relief in pain. Apart from pain, there is a considerable improvement in the movement of the hip. Earlier the lasting of Hip Replacement Surgery was for less than 8 years whereas the modern technique for the same has lasting life for more than 15 years.

Hip Replacement Surgery is one of the most common orthopaedic surgery. Adult of any age group can take up with this surgical procedure to get rid of pain & inconvenience in hip movement. Apart from the cases of accidents or bone breakdown in young adults due to sports or any other activity, the common age group undergoing Hip Replacement Surgery is 50 to 80. The question is why to take up with Hip Replacement Surgery? How it can be helpful?

Purpose Of Hip Replacement Surgery:

Hip Replacement Surgery is one of the most complex surgical processes. A person who has undertaken all types of non-surgical treatments including physiotherapy, steroid injections, medications and exercises but seen no improvement can go for the surgery. Hip Replacement Surgery is the best call in the situation when:

• There is a reduction in the mobility of the hip joint due to swelling or stiffness.
• Severe pain in the hip joint which may not let you stand, sit or sleep properly.
• Cannot perform the daily activities with ease, be it personal or professional.
• You have to make certain changes in your social life due to consistent pain in your hip joint.
• You start seeking help from someone to perform your daily activities.

The basic purpose of a Hip Replacement Surgery is to relieve a person suffering from any of the above situations. This surgery proves to be really helpful and can get you back to the normal routine. You can get a desirable relief from the pain and also improves the movement of your body. However, you have to be under the complete guidance of the surgeon or doctor during the recovery period. The recovery period is the post-surgical duration where you have to take up with all kinds of therapies and medicines necessary to subside the pain. More you are careful during the recovery time, higher are the chances of success of your Hip Replacement Surgery.

There are a lot of benefits of this surgery. Are you not curious about knowing, how is it performed? Let us check it out.

Procedure To Perform Hip Replacement Surgery?

Just like most of the surgical procedures, there exist three main parts for Hip Replacement Surgery. Each stage is defined step by step to get you complete details.

Pre-Surgical Time Or Preparation:  

The doctor prescribes all the tests to the patient. The patient must take up with a complete diagnosis. It is very important to determine, whether or not the patient is fit for surgery. Once the doctor approves the test reports, the surgeon takes up with the surgical process.

All the arrangements are made for the operation, prior to the date or time of the surgery.

After the admission of the patient, he is given either general anaesthesia or epidural. General anaesthesia makes the patient go to deep sleep and he is not able to feel the surgical pain. If the surgeon uses epidural then the person is conscious but the lower body is numb. The patient does not have to bear the pain even in this condition.

During Surgery:

Once the patient is put to unconsciousness, the main surgical process begins. A deep cut of around 8 to 10 inches is made along the hip side. Now the muscle connecting the thighbone & hip is made to shift in order to expose the hip joint. The surgeon then removes the diseased ball with the help of the saw, disconnecting it from the thighbone. In the next step, the doctor places the artificial joint either made of metal or plastic. The connection of this artificial joint is made possible with the help of a special type of cement or without it, as per the condition.

Once, the attachment of the new joint is properly done, the furtherance is to prepare the surface of the hip joint. During the process, the doctor removes the damaged cartilage and attaches the new socket part of the hip joint. Now the new hip joint is complete after interconnecting the artificial ball and the socket. The surgeon may add a drain for the exit of additional fluids. Though it is not done in all the cases. The doctor now ends up with the surgical process by connecting all the muscles and closing the cut with the help of incision.

It takes 60 to 90 minutes to finish up with Hip Replacement Surgery.

Most of the doctors, in recent times, do not go for putting long cuts rather they follow the minimally invasive technique. In a minimally invasive technique, two or more cuts of 2 to 5 inches are made to perform the surgery. However, the surgical process remains the same. It is convenient for both the doctor and the patient.

Post-Surgery:

This is the most crucial time after the surgery. The patient has to stay in the hospital for at least 6 to 8 days after the surgery so that new hip joint falls in place. 48 hours after the surgery, physiotherapy begins to ensure the necessary movement of the hip joint. Within a week or two, the patient can walk with the help of crutches, walker or any other support. Some patients have to stay for 2 to 4 months in the hospital to recover completely.

You can take up with Hip Replacement Surgery if that is what your body demands. But it is very important that you are well aware of the complications & risks involved with the surgery.

Hip Replacement Surgery: Risks & Complications

If any part of your body is put under replacement or transplantation process, it involves certain kinds of risks. However, the risk may or may not be very serious. The side-effects may be low in comparison to the benefits of the surgery. Same is the case with Hip Replacement Surgery. One in 100 patients has to face the complications of hip replacement. So, you can say this medical process have a huge rate of success. Well, the complications or side-effects of Hip Replacement Surgery are:

• Dislocation of the hip. However, it is not an immediate consequence and happens after a certain period of time.
• Damage to the blood vessel or the nerve during the surgery.
• Loss of the blood that demands blood transfusion.
• The difference in the height or length of the two legs.
• Infection. It may initiate from the point of surgery but can transfer to different parts of the body.
• Fracture.
• In certain cases, there is a huge reduction in the time for which the surgery works perfectly. There is considerable wear and tear out of the hip joint within 6 to 7 years of the surgery. This situation requires the reprocessing of Hip Replacement Surgery.

The safe part of undertaking the hip replacement is the chances of serious complications are very less and the success rate is close to 100%. So, you can take up with the surgery keeping in mind the recovery process.

Recovery After Hip Replacement Surgery:

After the completion of Hip Replacement Surgery, you have to be really careful about a minimum duration of 1 year. Any kind of ignorance can lead to serious consequences. During the recovery period,

• Do not twist or pivot on your legs.
• Never bend your hip past 90 degrees.
• Consult the doctor and take instructions on what all movements are allowed and keep in mind the ones that are restricted.
• Do not take up with heavy weight training. Say no to free weight or full-weight squats.
• If exercise or gym is part of your daily routine, go for it in expert supervision.
• The doctor may suggest for physiotherapy. Take it up regularly for best results.
• Follow the instructions of a physiotherapist while you take up with daily activities. Be attentive while climbing up and down the stairs.
• Do not rush with heavy physical activities.

Have patience and grow slowly with time. It is very important during the recovery else you may end up undergoing Hip Replacement Surgery all over again.

Outlook:

The blog gives you all the necessary details about the Hip Replacement Surgery, have a good read before you undergo the clinical process. It is very important that a patient is well aware of all the benefits and complications involved before taking up with any surgery so that he can prepare accordingly. However, taking up with Hip Replacement Surgery can remove your body restrictions due to any kind of hip abnormality and get back to normal life.

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