Has a surgeon recommended a hip replacement for you? Do you want to know which procedure is the best to replace your hip joints? This post discusses the same in detail. Know about the surgery, procedures available, benefits, and cost of the procedure.
What is hip replacement surgery?
Your hip joint is the junction of your hip socket and top of the thigh bone. In medical terms, the socket part is called the acetabulum and the thigh one is called the femoral head.
When a part of the hip joint, called cartilage allowing for smooth mobility, wears down or degenerates with age, it gives rise to the condition of Osteoarthritis.
When the situation worsens, joint mobility gets extremely restricted, decreasing the quality of life. You feel pain, stiffness, swelling and all the symptoms of inflammation while moving the concerned joint.
In this situation, to treat a person, a total knee replacement is suggested. To know about the total hip replacement surgery cost, skip to the section below.
During the surgery, the acetabulum, which is just a concave-shaped cavity, is removed along with the thigh attached to the acetabulum. The procedure is usually performed in the following three stages.
The procedure requires the surgeon to do the following:
Incision: The surgeon will make an incision near the hip joint area as per the requirements.
Exposure: The incision made will facilitate the exposure of the damaged hip joint that is to be removed for the insertion of artificial parts.
Osteotomy: Once the hip joint is exposed for the operation, osteotomy is performed. In other words, damaged bones will be cut and removed. At this stage, the acetabulum and the femoral head with neck is eliminated by surgical cut and reshaping.
Artificial (or Prosthetic) Resurfacing: Once the acetabulum (hip joint socket in the lower pelvis region) and femoral sections (top thigh bone) are removed, artificial parts like the acetabular cup, liner, head and femoral stem are used for the resurfacing of the joint.
The best procedure for a hip replacement
There are basically two approaches to performing a hip arthroplasty.
- Anterior
- Posterior
This classification is based on the options a surgeon has to make a cut and access the hip joint to be operated.
Anterior means from the front of your hip.
Suppose a surgeon performs a hip replacement using the anterior approach. In that case, the joint will be accessed from the front. In this procedure, you lie on your back so the surgeon can make an incision from the front of the thigh.
In addition, the surgeon makes an incision near the buttock area in the posterior approach.
Which one is better?
Each procedure has its own uniqueness and advantages with some downsides. The following are the advantages and disadvantages involved in each approach.
- Anterior Incision
Pros: faster recovery, less postoperative pain, fewer dislocations, and preservation of certain muscles
Cons: demanding on the part of the surgeon, and a higher risk of nerve injury due to positioning required during surgery
- Posterior Incision
Pros: for the excellent exposure and visualisation of the joint
Cons: a higher risk of dislocation, recovery time slightly higher, more postoperative pain during the initial days
How a surgeon approaches a hip replacement depends on the factors like surgeon’s expertise, the patient’s anatomy, and the specific goals of the surgery.
So, which approach for hip joint exposure is the most appropriate will be ultimately and authoritatively decided by your surgeon.
Benefits of hip replacement surgery
A painful and stiff hip can be treated with the help of hip replacement surgery.
Pain Relief: Only a person suffering from excruciating pain in the hip can realise the importance of a healthy knee and an unrestricted life. Thus, the best outcome of the replacement is the restoration of pain-free life once again.
Improved Mobility: After the replacement, your hip joints are no longer damaged. They are all set to move like before. Thus, being able to move your leg and hip in the full normal range is another advantage.
Better Sleep: Hip joints are vital for your life to happen normally. When hip pain troubles, your nights become nightmares. A total hip replacement treats this condition and thus helps sleep better.
Increased Independence: You can move your legs without pain and carry out all your day-to-day essential activities independently without any trouble.
Prevention of Joint Damage: If a replacement is not done and hip joints are left with the condition of OA, it exacerbates the problem and makes your joints get more damaged.
Positive Mental Health: Suppose you cannot get out of your wheelchair or bed as your hips are so painful. Is it something you can feel happy and positive about? No, it is not. Hence, because the surgery allows you to walk on your feet once again, it improves your mental health as well.
Enhanced Quality of Life: All the above-mentioned benefits lead to a happy, optimistic, and hopeful life.
Factors affecting the cost of a hip replacement
Without the assessment of your hip joint condition and medical history, nobody can tell you how much your hip replacement surgery is going to cost.
However, the following are the factors that influence the cost. The knowledge of these can help you manage the cost considerably.
- Location
- Doctor’s reputation
- Qualifications
- Hospitals
- Time of Year
- Health Complications
- Comorbidity
- Duration of Hospital Stay
- Medical Facilities
- Diagnostic Tests
Conclusion
If you are looking for the top hip replacement surgeon in Delhi, make sure you don’t consult the one with no practical experience in the field. Hip replacement surgery is a simple procedure but only for those who are skilled and expert. Hence, it is important to connect with an experienced and competent specialist.
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