What Is Hip Replacement Surgery?Hip replacement surgery refers to a surgical procedure undertaken on those who have suffered severe damage to their hips. Different forms of arthritis, injury or congenital malformation are some of the conditions which could result in the patient needing hip replacement surgery. Sometimes physiotherapy, medication and exercise fail to repair the damage to the hip and control the associated pain. It is then that hip replacement surgery is recommended. Also known as arthoplasty, hip replacement surgery essentially aims at reforming and repairing the hip joint. During the surgery damaged bone and cartilage is removed from the hip joint and replaced with man made parts. In Total Hip Replacement (THR) the surgery is centered on the head of the femur bone and the surface layer of pelvic socket. The femur bone is the bone which connects the hip to the knee. Its head fits into the pelvic socket. During surgery the head of the femur bone is substituted with a metal ball and stem. The stem is inserted into the shaft of the femur bone. The pelvic socket too is replaced with a cup made of plastic or metal and plastic. The composition of the man made parts which are used to replace damaged parts of the hip have been continually evolving over time. From using plastic and metal, today many other artificial components are also being put into use. The aim is to produce stronger and more durable products which will serve the patient better and longer. Some common materials used today include cobalt, chrome, ceramic materials and titanium. Designs too are changing with attempts being made to custom make the parts to suit the patient's particular needs. Hip replacement surgery is considered to be one of the most reliable orthopaedic procedures to reduce and control pain. A stiff, damaged or malformed hip joint can severely restrict a person's movement. Not only is walking affected but using stairs, bending and even getting up from a chair might become difficult tasks to handle. In addition there is the associated pain that must be endured. The operation improves the movement of the hip joint and thus allows the patient to experience a wider range of activities. The benefits to the patient are thus enormous. It not only improves the range of activities that can be enjoyed but it also significantly improves the person's quality of life. Greater independence and improved mobility are the most obvious outcomes of hip replacement surgery. Hip replacement surgery is a boon for anyone who has suffered severe damage to the hip joint. However like any other surgical procedure it has its own risks. The man made hip is usually smaller than the original joint. Thus hip dislocation can occur if the ball slips out of the socket. Infections and blood clots also have to be guarded against. There is also a possibility that one leg may be slightly longer than the other and corrective measures may have to be taken to rectify this.In order to avoid these post operative complications, patients are usually advised to avoid activities like jogging or high impact sports. |