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