Is Hip Replacement Surgery a Safe Procedure?

Hip replacement surgery is a safe and effective procedure that can relieve your pain, increase motion, and help you get back to enjoying normal, everyday activities.  In total hip replacement surgery (THR), the diseased hip joint is replaced with an artificial hip in which the head of the femur and the acetabulum in changed with an alloy. It is done for an arthritic hip due to various reasons.

A THR surgery lasts for about 2 ½ hours and about also includes an incision of about 6-8inches. Postoperatively, on the second day, the patient is made to sit on the bed or even walk with assistance. After 3-5 days, the patient is discharged from the hospital and the stitch is removed after 14 days.  Full recovery takes about 3-6months.

The most common complications are infection, dislocation mid hepatic inflammatory reaction to metal and polyethylene material.

However the new technology and recent advances have reduced the complications.

Alternative to hip replacement are:

• Exercise – physiotherapy and exercise relieving pain and keeping the joint healthy and free to move.
• Walking aids – not opting for surgery and using a walking sick and other aids to assist in walking.
• Medications and Osteotomics – Using painkillers to alleviate pain.

Painkillers can cause Complications:

Most common molecules in painkillers can cause severe complications like – peptic ulcers, rashes, high blood pressure and even renal failure leading to dialysis’s. Few patients also use corticosteroid orally or intra-articular injections .These corticosteroids have severe complications – life threatening diabetes, renal failures, water retention, psychosis, etc.

Who should opt for Hip Replacement Surgery?

People who have damaged their hip joint and their every day activity is being affected due to immobility should opt for  Hip Replacement Surgery. Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteonecrosis, Injury, Trauma, Bone Tumors are few of the reasons that cause Hip damage and subsequent Hip Replacement Surgery. The newer technology has led to the development of light and compatible implants making the recovery easy, fast and complication free. Recent operative results have been promising in both age groups – aged and younger population.  However your surgeon would insist on certain psychological aspects to understand if you are mentally ready for a replacement and if you will be mentally alert in your path to recovery as the same has numerous precautionary steps to be strictly followed.

Advantages of Hip Replacement Surgery:

The surgery helps restore the loss in mobility and relive pain. Following are the definite benefits of going through Hip Replacement Surgery.

• Relives pain and discomfort
• Increases the mobility and makes a person able to walk again
• Improves the participation of an individual in everyday activities
• Improves the quality of life