Overview

A hip replacement surgery, also known as Hip Arthroplasty, involves the replacement of painful joints of the hips with metallic, ceramic, or a hard plastic substitute. The condition is usually observed in middle-aged or older-aged. People facing a hip joint injury due to an accident or similar situations also benefit from hip surgery. The surgery involves no complicated procedures and is one of the most commonly performed surgical processes. It also helps people suffering from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. These forms of arthritis are caused due to inflammation in the joints leading to restricted movements. Surgery in such situations is the perfect choice to resume normal daily life. The artificial joint eliminates pain and allows the patient with better mobility. Arthritis is the major reason for getting hip surgery done. The surgery is divided into total and partial hip replacement. The surgery allows the patient to lead a normal routine life and perform all physical activities without obstructions.

When is Hip Replacement Surgery Required?

Mentioned below are the benefits or reasons why hip replacement surgery is important for an individual:

- Arthritis- Arthritis is one of the biggest and most obvious reasons for hip surgery. Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis causes joint inflammation, leading to pain during any movement. A hip surgery helps to get rid of this pain with the help of metallic or ceramic parts to replace the painful joints.
- Hip Dysplasia- Hip dysplasia is a condition characterised by abnormal hip joint development or formation. It occurs when the hip socket (acetabulum) is shallow or poorly formed, causing the femoral head (the ball-shaped end of the thigh bone) to fit loosely or improperly within the socket. This can lead to instability, misalignment, and eventual wear and tear of the joint surfaces.
- Perthes Disease - It is a rare hip disease found in children of all groups. However, boys are more prone to this disease than girls. The rarity of the disease is 1 case among 10,000 children, as per studies. It happens due to improper supply of blood and oxygen to the hip joints making the joints difficult to perform any movement. The child might feel pain while moving the hip joints. In the worst scenarios, a doctor may recommend hip surgery to keep the hip joints in place and improve joint mobility.

Steps Followed Before the Surgery

Mentioned below are the steps followed by the surgeon to prepare the patient for a successful surgery:

- Tests- Doctors recommend tests such as hip X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, urine tests, and EKGs. A doctor may also perform a few physical hip examinations. It may include individual movement of each hip to understand the problem areas in each of them.
- Medications- Examinations and follow-ups with a doctor before the surgery helps the patient to understand the procedure in depth. The patient is asked about any ongoing medicines. If any of these medicines may be problematic for the surgery, the doctor may ask the patient to quit them. Consumption of products such as tobacco and alcohol may also be stopped to avoid any issues during the surgery.

Risk Factors of a Hip Replacement Surgery

- Hip replacement surgery risks are low but can be disturbing for the patient. Mentioned below are some of the risks related to the surgery:
- Blood Clots- Blood clots are one of the highest possibilities post-surgery. In the case of hip replacement surgery, the clot may break off and reach the lungs, heart, or brain. To avoid any further mishaps, the doctor may recommend blood-thinning medications to lower the symptoms of the medical disorder.
- Infection- Infection is another risk factor associated with the surgery. The incision area may get infected, requiring antibiotics to eliminate the infection. If the metallic or ceramic part installed with the help of the surgery gets infected, the surgeon may have to replace the part with a new one.

When to Consult a Doctor

You can also get in touch with the expert Ortho doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support during injuries, health disorders or any other health concern.

Conclusion

Hip replacement surgery is done to replace painful and immobile hip joints with new metallic or ceramic parts. It helps the affected patient resume routine life and perform physical activities without obstructions. Arthritis is one of the major causes of surgery.

Reference Links

- https://www.narayanahealth.org/blog/things-to-remember-for-a-hip-replacement-surgery/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hip-replacement/about/pac-20385042
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17102-hip-replacement