| Surgery is never fun for anyone and if you are | | | | hip joint will be placed inside the socket by using a |
| scheduled to have hip surgery in the near future, | | | | metal screw which will go directly into your thigh |
| it is important for you to know all you can about | | | | bone. All of your new hip "equipment" will be kept |
| hip joint replacement. This surgery is also called hip | | | | securely in place by special adhesives. When all of |
| anthroplasty, hip heriarthroplasty and total hip | | | | this is done, your surgeon will close the incision |
| replacement. When you have your surgery, you | | | | and you'll be sent to the recovery room to be |
| may have all or just part of your hip joint | | | | monitored for an hour or so. |
| replaced by an artificial hip prosthesis. Most people | | | | Hip joint replacement surgery is most often |
| come through the surgery feeling better and able | | | | performed on people who have become crippled |
| to walk much more evenly and with less pain. | | | | with arthritis. These people cannot get around |
| Most likely you will be given a general anesthesia | | | | comfortably and experience severe pain when |
| when you have your surgery. This is best for | | | | standing, walking and even sitting. They are limited |
| most people because you will be completely | | | | to the amount of daily activity they can |
| unaware of what's happening during your surgery. | | | | participate in. Most hip replacement patients are in |
| Some physicians prefer to administer an epidural | | | | their 60s or older. Doing this surgery on younger |
| anesthesia which leaves you awake but unable to | | | | people isn't as successful in the long run because |
| feel anything from the waist down. | | | | these individuals put more stress on the artificial |
| The surgery itself has become quite common and | | | | hip, causing it to deteriorate much more rapidly. |
| generally takes about three hours. Your surgeon | | | | However, hip replacement surgery has made life |
| will make an incision and remove the head of your | | | | much, much better for older individuals. After a |
| thigh bone. Then, he or she will clean the hip | | | | short recovery period, they are again able to |
| socket of cartilage and damaged bone. The new | | | | enjoy life to its fullest and with little, if any, pain. |