| Hip Joint Replacement is a surgery commonly | | | | Orthopedic surgeon. |
| performed in Orthopedic practice, wherein the hip | | | | As regards hospital stay, the usual duration is 1 week. |
| joint is changed to a new modular bearing providing | | | | The timing of going back to previous level of activity |
| painless articulation. | | | | depends upon the type of Hip replacement - |
| The common indications of a Hip Replacement | | | | Cemented/ Un-cemented; and the quality of bone |
| surgery are: | | | | stock. Usually patients may resume office and |
| 1. Hip Joint Arthritis- either degenerative or | | | | sedentary work after 4-6 weeks. |
| inflammatory pathology. | | | | The typical longevity of a Hip replacement depends |
| 2. Fracture Neck Femur (upper end of thigh bone) | | | | upon- quality of bone/ level of physical activity/ Age/ |
| 3. Malformed hip Joint- a disease of the childhood | | | | body weight/ technique of surgery. Most hip |
| 4. Loss of blood supply (Avascular Necrosis) | | | | replacements survive an average of 15-20 years. |
| The definite indication of Hip Replacement is - Painful | | | | However, a large number of variables affecting |
| hip joint with radiological evidence of obliteration of | | | | longevity prevents accurate survival analysis. |
| joint space. Only exclusion is Fracture Neck Femur; | | | | The metal typically used in a Hip Replacement is non - |
| wherein a partial change of the bearing component | | | | reacting to body fluids. It may be Stainless Steel/ |
| may be performed. | | | | Titanium alloy, Cobalt - chrome alloy. The bearing |
| Patients usually have a number of queries regarding;a) | | | | surface is important factor in survival. Ceramic-on |
| Will the pain go?b) How much time do I need to stay | | | | Ceramic and Metal-on Metal the the favored ones in |
| in Hospital; and how much time off work?c) Do I | | | | current practice. |
| need to come back again for a possible surgery?d) | | | | The most important of all, are the precautions to be |
| What happens to the metal inside my body?e) What | | | | taken by the patient himself. Dislocation of the new |
| precautions I need to take, and for how long? | | | | joint is a potential risk. extremes of movements |
| I will try to offer explanations to every question one | | | | should be avoided under all circumstances. |
| by one... | | | | To summarize, it is important to understand the |
| The foremost concern is PAIN. | | | | advantages/ limitations of a Hip replacement and to |
| After a hip replacement, the pain due to arthritis | | | | expect a reasonable goal before undergoing surgery. |
| usually subsides in 4-6 weeks. Thereafter, there may | | | | In a properly selected patient, it offers significant |
| be occasional reminders of pain after unaccustomed | | | | improvement in the quality of life and activity level. |
| activity. If however, the pain re-appears after a | | | | The discussion on the relative performance of |
| prolonged pain free period; or the pain tends to | | | | different bearing surfaces in hip replacement, will be |
| worsen progressively, there is a definite cause for | | | | discussed in subsequent posts. |
| concern. This requires an urgent evaluation by the | | | | |