What is total hip replacement?
Total hip replacement is a surgical procedure. It involves removing and replacing parts of the pelvis and thigh bone that form the hip joint.
Who is total hip replacement for?
Total hip arthroplasty is for patients with hip pain due to a reduction in the medial joint space resulting from a variety of conditions. Some of these are:
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteonecrosis
Hip dysplasia
Osteoarthritis. Some of these are:
corticosteroid injections
Medication
Weight loss
Physical therapy
What are the advantages of total hip replacement?
The flowering of modern total hip arthroplasty was seen in 1950 with Charnley’s low friction arthroplasty. With the advancement of medicine, total hip arthroplasty is considered one of the most reliable surgical procedures. Now, the patient is relieved of pain, hip function is restored and can return to daily life immediately.
What are the risks of total hip replacement?
If the patient chooses a qualified orthopaedic surgeon, then there will be no risk of complications. Of course, although rare, complications can include:
Blood clots
Infection
Dislocation
Anisoscelia
Relaxation
Stiffness
Neurovascular damage
Need for revision or additional hip surgery
Bleeding
What is the preparation for total hip arthroplasty?
The patient will undergo a physical examination in order for the specialist orthopaedic surgeon to examine the hip condition in detail. Afterwards, he will ask for the patient’s medical history and ask some specific questions. The patient will also undergo a series of imaging and non-imaging tests. These include:
X-ray
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging
How is total hip replacement performed?
The surgery takes about 2 hours and is performed under a dorsal anesthesia. The specialist orthopaedic surgeon will remove the damaged cartilage and bone through an incision of approximately 10cm. He will then place new metal, plastic or ceramic implants. This will restore alignment and function to the hip.
In general, this procedure requires careful preoperative planning and the choice of surgical approach must be considered. The four most widely used are:
Posterior
Lateral
Anterolateral
Anterior approach
In addition, they can be performed in a supine or lateral position, on regular tables or traction tables. In fact, Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) techniques have been developed for all approaches. The aim is to reduce muscle damage, facilitating post-operative rehabilitation.
What happens after total hip replacement?
In order to avoid complications, the patient will remain in the hospital for 1-2 days. Also, postoperative pain is almost non-existent due to minimal invasiveness and modern analgesic methods. Of course, the patient, with the help of a physiotherapist, will start walking in order to strengthen the hip.
After 15 days, the sutures will be cut. The patient will walk with the help of underarm bacteria or a “P” walker. Finally, anticoagulation will be taken for one month after the surgery.
When can the patient return to daily life?
Usually patients return to work and can drive within 4 weeks. Finally, after a few months, most patients return to sports activities such as walking, running, swimming and cycling.
The orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Antonios Pettas, qualified as a specialist in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology in Stockholm. He was also in charge of foot and ankle surgeries at Norrtälje Hospital in Stockholm. Contact him for an early diagnosis and treatment.
