| The goals of total hip replacement (arthroplasty) are | | | | such as paracetamol, or non steroidal |
| to provide relief of pain and discomfort, improve | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs; or disease management |
| function and enhance stability in patients suffering | | | | medication: like glucosamine-sulfate), physiotherapy, |
| from arthritis or any disabling orthopedic hip problem. | | | | and adapting your physical activities, so that you are |
| This goal was originally met in the late 1960's and has | | | | sufficiently comfortable and you are content with |
| been improved over the past several decades. | | | | your present activity level and motion in your hip, |
| In India Total hip replacement is a common surgical | | | | then you may decide to wait (AKA watchful waiting). |
| procedure with a high success rate. In an arthritic hip, | | | | Femoral/acetabular osteotomy |
| the damaged ball (the upper end of the femur) is | | | | For patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip |
| replaced by a metal or ceramic ball attached to a | | | | (DDH), cutting the thigh bone (femoral astronomy) or |
| metal stem fitted into the femur (with or without | | | | pelvis (Ganz, Berne or Bernice osteotomy) in order to |
| cement), and a plastic or ceramic socket (fitted into | | | | realign the hip may be indicated if the hip |
| a metal socket) that is implanted into the pelvis, | | | | weight-bearing area can be broadened or made more |
| replacing the damaged socket. | | | | congruent. This is often useful in young patients. |
| Using a combination of metal and plastic, the joint | | | | Recovery following osteotomy may be longer than |
| implant surgeon creates a new ball and socket joint, | | | | with joint replacement, implicating no weight bearing |
| which will glide smoothly and painlessly. During the | | | | for 6 weeks up to 3 months! |
| past two decades, multiple advances in hip | | | | Arthrodesis |
| arthroplasty have been accomplished and many | | | | Arthrodesis is rarely performed, but is an especially |
| types of prosthesis are available and currently used. | | | | effective procedure for younger patients, particularly |
| The metals used are chrome cobalt alloy and/or | | | | those who are of short stature and who are |
| titanium alloy. These are super metals initially | | | | otherwise healthy. "Arthrodesis" relieves pain by |
| developed for the aerospace industry and now | | | | fusing the femoral head to the acetabulum. It has |
| adapted for the orthopedic industry. The plastic is a | | | | none of the limitations that a joint replacement or |
| high-density plastic polymer called polyethylene. In | | | | other procedure has in terms of restrictions in |
| younger patients a ceramic ball is used with a | | | | activity level. If the patient's back is mobile and |
| polyethylene or ceramic socket. | | | | without symptoms, it is a very worthwhile procedure. |
| Methods of total hip replacement surgery: | | | | The procedure generally requires internal fixation with |
| Modern Total Hiip replacement surgery is divided in | | | | plate and screws and occasionally cast immobilization |
| two different methods. With elderly people it is often | | | | while healing takes place. An arthrodesis can be |
| more reasonable to put in and fix the total hip in a | | | | converted to a total hip replacement at a later date, |
| softer bone by using bone cement. The advantage | | | | usually 15 years on average after the operation. |
| of this method is that the prosthesis holds from the | | | | Why go to India for total hip replacement surgery? |
| very first day and will not loosen itself in the | | | | Orthopedic surgery in Western countries cost 5 to 6 |
| relatively soft bone of an elderly person. This | | | | times as much as in India. Over the years, India has |
| represents a very stable and reasonable construction. | | | | become a global centre of excellence in orthopedics |
| Today, a stainless steel prosthesis is inserted into the | | | | surgery including the total hip replacement surgery by |
| bone of the upper leg by using a little amount of | | | | promoting the notion that medical services in India |
| bone cement and is immediately stable. | | | | can be bought off the shelf from the lowest priced |
| The inverse of the hip bone will be shaped and a | | | | provider anywhere in the globe, care. The concept |
| piece of synthetic material will be fixed with bone | | | | has broad appeal, as Indian private facilities offer |
| cement. The connection is immediately stable. This | | | | advanced technology and high-quality procedures on |
| method has been approved worldwide for over 40 | | | | par with hospitals in the major industrialized countries |
| years and is still recommended. The life expectancy | | | | at a fraction of the cost It is a deepening of the |
| of a prosthesis of this kind is a minimum of 10 years, | | | | whole notion of health care that is being pushed |
| normally 15 years and very often 20 years. | | | | today which emphasizes on technology and private |
| A well established second method is a system of | | | | enterprise. More and more western patients seeking |
| joint replacement without bone cement. In this case | | | | surgery are looking towards eastern destinations |
| titanium trunks are fitted into the upper leg bone | | | | such as India, for their medical needs, including |
| (femur) and are fixed by exact insertion into the | | | | orthopedic procedures like the hip replacement |
| femur. This method of the cementless prosthesis | | | | surgery. Once in India you can be rest assured about |
| normally takes a couple of weeks until it is fixed to | | | | your proper diagnosis and medication. Furthermore, if |
| the upper leg bone. We recommend the use of | | | | situation demands, surgery packages are also within |
| crutches for 6-8 weeks. | | | | your reach. Medical Treatment in India is amid the |
| In Rheinfelden a titanic cup which is screwed into the | | | | best in the world, facilitated by the most skilled |
| bone and also not fixed by bone cement has proved | | | | doctors and up to the minute super sphere hospitals |
| true. In this type of titanic cup either plastic or | | | | of India. |
| ceramic inlay is fitted in exactely. | | | | Costs for Bilateral Hip replacement surgery: |
| The slide bearing (so called ,,Gleitpaarung") means | | | | The total cost of the Hip Replacement Surgery in |
| that materials for bonehead and inlay of the cup can | | | | India is very less as compared to USA or UK. The |
| be different. In most cases the slide bearing plastic | | | | patient can go back to his country by the 12th day in |
| and metal has proved to be good. The stay in the | | | | case of single hip joint replacement and by 20th day |
| clinic in case of a hip replacement usualy is 2 weeks. | | | | after a bilateral hip replacement. The stay is shorter |
| Alternatives to Total Hip Replacement Surgery. | | | | after double hip replacement surgery as the |
| Conservative treatment | | | | intervening period between sequential knee |
| One alternative is not to have an operation. If your | | | | replacements is avoided. |
| pain can be controlled with medication (pain killers: | | | | |