or Total Hip Replacement is surgery to replace all or part of the hip joint with an artificial device to restore joint movement (a prosthesis). Hip replacement is mostly done in older people. The operation is usually not recommended for younger people because of the strain they can put on the artificial hip.
Is hip replacement the right choice for you?
The indications for the hip replacement surgery are:
· hip pain that has failed to respond to conservative therapy (NSAID medication for 6 months or more)
· hip osteoarthritis or arthritis confirmed by X-ray
· inability to work, sleep, or move because of hip pain
· loose hip prosthesis
· some hip fractures
· hip joint tumors
This surgery is not recommended for:
· current hip infection
· poor skin coverage around hip
· paralysis of the quadriceps muscles
· severe disease of the blood vessels of the leg and foot (peripheral vascular disease)
· nerve disease (neuropathy) affecting the hip
· severe limiting mental dysfunction
· serious physical disease (terminal disease, such as metastatic disease)
· morbid obesity (over 300 lb.)
The hip is made of a ball and a socket joint, linking the dome at the head of the thigh bone (femur) and the cup in the pelvic bone. A total hip prosthesis is surgically implanted to replace the damaged bone within the hip joint.
The total hip prosthesis used for hip replacement consists of three parts:
· a plastic cup that replaces your hip socket (acetabulum)
· a metal ball that will replace the fractured femoral head
· a metal stem that is attached to the shaft of the bone to add stability to the prosthesis
If a hemi-arthroplasty is performed, either the femoral head or the hip socket (acetabulum) will be replaced with a prosthetic device. You will receive an extensive pre-operative evaluation of your hip to determine if you are a candidate for a hip replacement procedure. Evaluation will include assessment of the degree of disability and impact on your lifestyle, pre-existing medical conditions, and an evaluation of heart and lung function.
The hip replacement surgery will be performed using general or spinal anesthesia. The orthopedic surgeon makes an incision along the affected hip joint, exposing the hip joint. The head of the femur and the cup are cut out and removed.
Learn more about hip replacement and additional General Surgery procedures at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. One of the nation's preeminent academic medical centers, WFUBMC is an integrated health care system that operates 1,291 acute care, rehabilitation and long-term care beds, outpatient services, and community health and information centers. The Medical Center's component institutions carry out a joint mission of patient care, education, research and community service. The partnership includes three major members: Wake Forest University Health Sciences, North Carolina Baptist Hospital, and Wake Forest University Physicians.