Undergoing a hip replacement procedure is a difficult decision that most men and women with hip problems make after seriously considering all the options, health care providers say. First achieved in 1960, according to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgery (AAOS), hip replacement surgery remains to be one of the most successful procedure in all of medicine. Lifestyle changes, exercise and medications are non-surgical methods that are being used before a surgical procedure may be advised. Those who are still contemplating on the procedure needs to know all the details concerning the operation. It is important that patients weigh the risk and benefit of the surgery and health care providers are required to provide the necessary details of the procedure.
It may help to ask the right questions to disperse any doubts and fears. These questions are commonly asked by patients:
What is a hip replacement?
- It is surgically removing the damaged part of the joint and inserting the artificial joint in its place.
Are there possible alternatives to hip replacement surgery?
- A possible alternative is osteotomy – this entails cutting and realigning the bone to shift the weight.
What occurs after the procedure?
- It usually takes three to five days before a patients is discharged from the hospital. A physical therapist will instruct patients to follow a series of joint strengthening exercises before they are discharged.
How long will it take to fully recover?
- It may take about three to six months for the patient to fully recover. Following the exercises and doctors’ recommendations may help in speeding up the recovery.
What are the common complications of this procedure?
- There are varying complications to this type of operation. Hip replacement surgery also has the same set of complications that are present in major surgeries. Dislocation remains to be a common problem after the surgery because the artificial joint is not as large as the normal joint. After several years of using the prosthesis, it is also possible that the implant will experience wear and tear. These problems might result to a hip revision surgery.
A skilled surgeon is often in demand because the skills of the surgeon may affect patients’ recovery. Orthopedic specialists conduct studies to help in creating better implants after the recent metal hip recall occurred.
URL References:
orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00377
niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Hip_Replacement/#3
