Benefits of hip replacement

Total hip replacement surgery almost always:

• Stops or greatly reduces hip pain. Even the pain from surgery should go away within weeks.

• Increases leg function. Without hip pain, you’ll be able to use your legs more. This will build up your muscles.

• Improves quality of life by allowing you to do daily tasks and low-impact activities in greater comfort.

• Provides years of easier movement. Most total hip replacements last for many years.

Your surgical experience

You will most likely arrive at the hospital on the morning of surgery. In many cases, pre-op tests are done days or even weeks ahead of time. Follow all of your surgeon’s instructions on preparing for surgery. When you arrive, you’ll be given forms to fill out. You will also talk with the anesthesiologist, the healthcare provider who gives the anesthesia, if you haven’t done so already.

Preparing for surgery

Follow any directions you are given for taking medicines or for not eating or drinking before surgery. You may need to stop certain medicines several days or weeks before the surgery. At the hospital your temperature, pulse, breathing, and blood pressure will be checked. An IV (intravenous) line will be started to provide fluids and medicines needed during surgery.

The surgical procedure

When the surgical team is ready, you’ll be taken to the operating room. There you’ll be given anesthesia. The anesthesia will help you sleep through surgery, or it will make you numb from the waist down. Then an incision is made, giving the surgeon access to your hip joint. The damaged ball is removed, and the socket is prepared to hold the prosthesis. After the new joint is in place, the incision is closed with staples or stitches.

Preparing the bone

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The ball is cut from the thighbone, and the surface of the old socket is smoothed. Then the new socket is put into the pelvis. The socket is usually press-fit and may be held in place with screws. A press-fit prosthesis has tiny pores on its surface that your bone will grow into. Cement or press-fit may be used to hold the ball-and-stem portion of the hip replacement.

Joining the new parts

The new hip stem is inserted into the upper portion of your thighbone. After the stem is secure in the thighbone, the new ball and socket are joined. The stem of the prosthesis may be held with cement or press-fit. Your surgeon will choose the method that is best for you.

In the recovery room

After surgery you’ll be sent to the recovery room, also called the PACU (postanesthesia care unit). Your condition will be watched closely, and you’ll be given pain medicine. You may have a catheter (small tube) in your bladder and a drain in your hip. To keep your new joint stable, a foam wedge or pillows may be placed between your legs. In some cases, a brace is used.

Risks and complications

As with any surgery, hip replacement has possible risks and complications. These include:

• Reaction to the anesthesia

• Blood clots

• Infection

• Dislocation of the joint or loosening of the prosthesis

• Difference in leg length

• Fracture

• Wearing out the prosthetic

• Damage to nearby blood vessels, bones, or nerves

• Thigh pain