What is a hip replacement?
Once your hip pain or mobility has not responded to conservative treatment, you may well be a candidate for total hip replacement surgery. Hip joint replacement helps patients in the treatment for severely diseased hip joints.The procedure replaces part or all of the hip joint with an artificial and functional device (prosthesis) and a plastic liner in between to restore joint movement.
Hip replacement is one of the most effective operations known and is designed to:
- relieve pain
- reduce symptoms
- restore mobility
- regain function
- resume normal lifestyle
Optimized Positioning
Every patient moves differently and a total hip replacement should be optimized to account for this.Optimized Positioning System (OPS™) is an innovative technology for use in total hip replacement procedures.
OPS™ provides a dynamic simulation and a personalized solution in a simple, quick and accurate way, giving the surgeon the information required to tailor each surgery for each patient.
Causes & Symptoms
Hip Replacement Causes
The most common reason for hip replacement is osteoarthritis in the hip joint. Your doctor might also suggest this surgery if you have:- Rheumatoid arthritis (a disease that causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling)
- Osteonecrosis (a disease that causes the bone in joints to die)
- Injury of the hip joint
- Bone tumors that break down the hip joint.
The most common reason for hip replacement is osteoarthritis in the hip joint. Your doctor might also suggest this surgery if you have:
- Walking aids, such as a cane
- An exercise program
- Physical therapy
- Medications
Hip Replacement Symptoms
- Your pain persists or recurs over time
- Your hip aches during and after exercise
- You're no longer as mobile as you'd like to be
- Medication and using a cane aren't delivering enough relief
- Your hip stiffens up from sitting in a car or a movie theater
- You feel pain in rainy weather
- The pain prevents you from sleeping
- You feel a decrease in hip motion or the degree to which you're able to bend
- Your hip is stiff or swollen
- You have difficulty walking or climbing stairs
- You have difficulty getting in and out of chairs and bathtubs
- You experience morning stiffness that typically lasts less than 30 minutes (as opposed to stiffness lasting longer than 45 minutes, a sign of an inflammatory condition called rheumatoid arthritis)
- You feel a "grating" of your joint
- You've had a previous injury to your hip
Diagnosis
To diagnose your condition, an orthopedic surgeon will perform a thorough examination of your hip, analyze X-rays, and conduct physical tests. You will be asked to describe your pain, if you suffer from other joint pain, and if you have endured past injuries that may have affected your current hip condition. It may be helpful to keep a record of your hip pain to share with your doctor. Your hip joint will then be tested for strength and range of motion through a series of activities. X-rays of your hip joint will indicate any change in size or shape, or any unusual circumstances. MRIs are used to detect early stages of disease.