Experts at Treating Hip Arthritis in Orange County
What is Hip Replacement Surgery?
During total hip replacement (also called hip arthroplasty) the damaged
hip joint, which consists of the pelvis and femur (thighbone) are replaced
with an artificial hip joint or prosthesis, typically made with metal,
ceramic and a very hard plastic. This surgery can relieve hip pain and
stiffness as well as help to restore motion of the arthritic hip joint.
Understanding the Anatomy of the Hip
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The ball, at the top of your femur
(thighbone) is called the femoral head. The socket, called the acetabulum,
is part of your pelvis. The ball moves in the socket, allowing your leg
to rotate and move forward, backward and sideways.
In a healthy hip, the cartilage covers the ball and the socket to help
the hip move smoothly. If this cartilage wears down, which occurs with
hip arthritis or from a traumatic hip injury, the bones can scrape together
and become rough. An arthritic hip can make it painful to walk or even
get in and out of a chair.
Your hip surgeon may first attempt to relieve your hip pain with conservative,
nonsurgical treatments such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
and physical therapy, injections of steroids. But if conservative measures
do not relieve symptoms, your surgeon may recommend hip replacement surgery.
Common Causes for Hip Replacement
The following conditions are most commonly associated to requiring hip
replacement surgery:
Osteoarthritis is commonly referred to as wear and tear arthritis. Osteoarthritis damages
the cartilage that cushions the bones of the hip joint and helps the joint
move smoothly. When this wears away, the bones then rub against each other,
causing the hip joint to stiffen and become painful.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation to the hip joint and
can erode the cartilage and occasionally underlying bone, resulting in
damaged and deformed hip joints.
Osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis can follow an injury to the hip, such as a hip fracture or dislocated hip
where the blood supply to the ball portion of the hip joint is cut-off
or limited. The lack of blood may cause the surface of the bone to collapse
and deform, resulting in arthritis.
Post-Traumatic Arthritis can follow a serious hip injury or fracture. The cartilage may become damaged
and lead to hip pain and stiffness over time.
When Hip Replacement Surgery is Recommended
There are several reasons why your hip surgeon may recommend hip replacement surgery.
Patients who benefit from hip replacement surgery often experience the
following symptoms:
Hip pain that limits everyday activities, such as walking or bending
Hip pain that continues while resting
Stiffness in a hip that limits range of motion and the ability to move
or lift the leg
If conservative treatments such as NSAIDs and physical therapy do not relieve hip pain
Types of Hip Replacement Surgery
Hip replacement surgery is a common surgical procedure used in the management
of advanced rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, osteoarthritis,
and severe fractures. Below we explain the different types of hip replacement
procedures available at Newport Orthopedic Institute.
Total Hip Replacement Surgery is the most common type of hip replacement surgery and is also called
total hip arthroplasty. This procedure involves the removal of damaged
parts of the femur and pelvis with artificial implants. The socket is
replaced with a durable plastic cup, which may or may not also include
a titanium metal shell. Your femoral head will be removed and replaced
with a ball made from ceramic or a metal alloy. The new ball is attached
to a metal stem that is inserted into the top of your femur.
There are two major surgical approaches used for performing a total hip
replacement:
Posterior approach hip replacement is a minimally invasive procedure which requires your hip surgeon to cut
through soft tissue at the back of the hip to gain access to the hip’s
ball and socket. This approach also uses a curved incision on the side
and back of the hip. The incision curves just behind the greater trochanter,
the knobby bit of bone that sticks out at the side from the top of the
femur (thighbone). Improvements to this approach allow a smaller incision
and less tissue trauma, enabling a more rapid post-operative recovery.
This modification of the posterior approach has been called the “mini
posterior approach hip replacement.” In addition, if needed this
approach can quickly expand to access the pelvis or femur in more complex
cases such as hip revision surgery.
Anterior approach hip replacement is also a minimally invasive procedure that requires the surgeon to gain
access to the hip joint through front of the hip. It is sometimes called
a muscle-sparring hip replacement because it doesn’t require detaching
or cutting muscles and tendons. It is also referred to as a mini hip replacement
because it uses an incision that can be as small as 3-4 inches.
Partial Hip Replacement also called hemiarthroplasty, involves replacing only one side of the
hip joint – the femoral head, instead of both sides. This procedure
is most commonly done in older patients who have suffered a fractured
hip in an emergent setting. This procedure is not used for patients who
develop wear and tear of the joint.
Hip Revision Surgery is performed to repair an artificial hip joint (prosthesis) that has been
damaged over time due to an infection, or normal wear or loosening of
the prosthetic hip. Revision surgery helps the hip to function normally
again. Depending on how the original hip replacement is problematic, the
revision (redo) is tailored to address specific part that has worn out,
whether it is the socket (acetabular component), femur (femoral component) or both.
Schedule a consultation with a Newport Orthopedic Institute Hip Surgeon
in Orange County to treat your Hip Arthritis.
Call
(949) 722-7038
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