What type of surgery is a hip replacement?
Hip replacement involves surgical manipulation, during which the surgeon removes the damaged area of the hip joint and replaces it with a new one. The artificial joint is called a prosthesis and is intended to reduce pain, improve quality of life and mobility.
Hip replacement is medically called total hip arthroplasty.
The operation is indicated in the following conditions:
- The pain does not go away despite taking painkillers;
- The pain in the hip area worsens when walking;
- The patient has difficulty sleeping, resting, and has to deal with constant discomfort due to hip pain;
- The pain is so intense that it is almost impossible to walk normally, use stairs, or perform other physical activities;
- The patient has difficulty getting up easily (for example, he was sitting and cannot get up independently).
The following diseases are often the reason for hip replacement:
- Osteoarthritis;
- Rheumatoid arthritis;
- Osteonecrosis.
The artificial part of the hip may wear out over time - in such clinical cases, a second arthroplasty is recommended.
The rehabilitation process is individual and depends on the patient's general health, age, and medical history. However, statistically, most patients feel much better within 3 months after surgery.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hip-replacement/about/pac-20385042
