Hip Replacement

When your hip bone is damaged (fractured, osteoarthritis, etc.), it is partially or fully replaced with prosthetic components. There are 2 types of hip replacements:

Partial Hip Replacement– with this type of replacement, your orthopedic specialist will only replace the affected part of the knee. Advantage: You keep the part that is not affected.
Total Hip Replacement– with this type, the whole joint is replaced.

Deciding on hip replacement must be a combined effort between you and your orthopedic specialist. There is no absolute weight or age when deciding the need to do replacement. This procedure is not only for elderly people above the age of 60. Young people who might have juvenile or early-onset osteoarthritis, or young people who have a hip fracture may be candidates as well.

Hip replacement is usually the last option. Your orthopedic specialist will try to exhaust all possible conservative managements before deciding to do this procedure. Conservative management may include resting, physiotherapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, etc. After taking your history (noting physical activities and social history such as vices like smoking, etc.), your orthopedic specialist would conduct a physical examination to assess mobility, alignment, and strength. He then may decide to do radiologic studies such as x-rays; and if needed, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

When deciding whether or not to do a joint hip replacement, one must consider many factors. Although most cases of patients having had joint replacement done has resulted in a remarkable decrease in their pain level and increase in the level of activity, it also has its disadvantages. This procedure cannot make your hip work and function as if you were a teenager again. Your hip may wear down in the years to come. Following this, one may then experience loosening and then may have recurrence of pain. Thus, the avoidance of excessive activities must be practiced (avoid running, jogging, jumping, and other high-impact sports).

What to expect after hip replacement procedure?

After the successful surgery, you are expected to follow the doctor’s orders. This is so you’ll improve faster and be able to return to your activities of daily living as early as possible. Your doctor would probably prescribe you the following:

- Pain medications– Given temporarily to manage the pain after the procedure.
- Antithrombosis medication– Usually after surgery to avoid having deep venous thrombosis.
You should be watchful for the following:
- Infection– Be watchful for any signs of infection on the surgical site. This may include pain, redness, swelling, and sometimes pus discharge.
- Bleeding– As cuts were made, surgical site can bleed. This can also result from trauma or disturbance in the previously repaired surgical site.
- Falls– As balance is kept by one leg alone, one must be careful especially with ambulation.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis– Since your extremity mobilization is impaired as of the moment, you should be careful of possible deep vein thrombosis – doctors may prescribe blood thinners to help prevent such occurrence. Mobilization and physical therapy is needed.

Make sure you have someone to assist you with wound cleaning and attending to your necessary needs. After a few days, you may need to check with your doctor for follow up. You may need to have an x ray to confirm the placement of the implant and how it is doing. In the rehabilitation process, you are advised to undergo sessions of physical therapy. With this, your progress is monitored and you will be reaching postoperative milestones appropriately.