What is hip replacement surgery?
Hip replacement surgery is a procedure where an Orthopaedic Surgeon carefully removes your painful hip joint and replaces it with an artificial hip. The artificial hip joint is artificial typically constructed of metal, ceramic or plastic material, or a combination of the three.
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Ready to book now? Get in touch to discuss your needs and decide on the best course of treatment for you.
What causes hip pain?
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis causes your joints to become painful and stiff and affects your mobility. In the UK, this is the most common form of arthritis, occurring when the smooth cartilage across your joint wears out through time.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition where, due to an autoimmune process, your body attacks healthy cells by mistake. This often causes pain, swelling and inflammation in your joints. These joints are often surrounded by inflamed tissue and this can cause chronic pain.
Hip trauma or injury
Trauma to your hip, for example caused by sports injuries, can lead to fractures in the hip joint. This can also be caused by conditions that weaken your hip bones, such as osteoporosis.
What are the symptoms of hip problems?
You may benefit from seeking the advice of your doctor if you experience:
- Stiffness and restriction of movement
- Hip pain when walking and at night time
- Hip pain when exercising and walking
- Hip pain during sex
- Stiffness and restriction of movement
- Hip pain when walking and at night time
- Being unable to support your body weight on one leg.
Living with ongoing hip pain can negatively affect your sleep patterns, relationships, working life and ability to socialise. You may find that you’re unable to stay active.
What happens during hip replacement surgery?
There are two main types of hip replacement surgery: total hip replacement and partial hip replacement. These use slightly different surgical techniques. Your surgeon will use the best technique for your individual case.
Partial hip replacement
In partial hip replacement surgery, your surgeon will only remove and replace your femoral head (the upper end of your thigh bone). During partial hip replacement surgery, your femoral head will be removed and replaced with an artificial femoral head.
Total hip replacement (arthroplasty)
A total hip replacement involves a surgeon removing your femoral head and relining the socket. The socket and head can be removed and artificial replacements fitted in their place. This is a more invasive form of hip replacement surgery because it involves the removal of both your ball and socket.
Preparing for hip replacement surgery
Your consultant will ensure that you have all the information you need to best prepare for your surgery.
It is recommended that you stay as active as you can in the run up to your surgery. This will strengthen the muscles around your hip and will help with your recovery. If possible, continue to do gentle exercise, for example walking and swimming.
You may be referred to a physiotherapist, who will give you helpful exercises to do while you wait for your surgery. At Healthshare, our expert in-house physiotherapy team are on hand to help.
What are the alternatives to hip replacement surgery?
Hip replacement is an elective procedure and is often non-urgent. Therefore, you can choose to have your surgery when it suits you. If you are able to live with your hip condition, there are non-surgical options, such as:
- Physiotherapy to improve mobility
- Over-the-counter inflammatory medicine
- Steroid injections to reduce inflammation and pain in the affected area
If the above treatments are not alleviating your symptoms, you may want to consider surgery as a solution.
What happens after hip replacement surgery?
After the operation, you will be lying flat on your back, perhaps with a pillow between your legs to keep your hip in the right position. You will have a dressing on your leg to protect the wound.
You will be assisted to get up and walk as quickly as possible after surgery to encourage a healthy recovery.
Recovering from hip replacement surgery
Thanks to our rapid-recovery hip surgery, you’ll be able to return home on the same day as your procedure.
When you’re ready to go home, your surgeon will give you advice on how to look after your hip at home. You may find it useful to use a walking frame or crutches to get around the house at first.
It’s usually possible to return to light activities or office-based work after a few weeks. However, everyone recovers differently and it’s best to speak to your doctor or physiotherapist about when to return to normal activities.
Complications and side effects of hip replacement surgery
Complications of a hip replacement can include:
- Differences in leg length
- A fracture in the bone around the hip replacement during or after the operation
- Hip dislocation
- Infection at the site of the surgery
- Injuries to the blood vessels or nerves
- DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
However, the risk of serious complications is low.
There’s also the risk that an artificial hip joint can wear out earlier than expected. If this happens you may require further surgery.
FAQs
How long do hip replacements last?
This will depend on which type of artificial hip joint your surgeon has used. Generally speaking, a modern artificial hip joint is designed to last for at least 15 years.