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What is Total Hip Replacement: Surgery Process, Causes & Recovery

By Dr. Simon Thomas in Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement , Robotic Surgery

Nov 20 , 2024 | 4 min read

Total hip replacement is an effective surgical procedure aimed at relieving pain and improving mobility for patients suffering from problems related to the hip joint. It's usually for patients whose hip damage hampers their daily activities and the quality of life they lead. This blog will provide elaborate descriptions of total hip replacement, the surgery performed, the causes that decide for a patient to undergo this operation, and the process of recovery.

What is Total Hip Replacement?

Total hip replacement, or hip arthroplasty, refers to an operating procedure by which worn-out or damaged parts of the hip are replaced by man-made implants. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint made up of the femoral head, which is the ball of the joint, and the acetabulum that forms the socket. This procedure involves the replacement of the natural ball and socket of the hip with prosthetic devices made out of metal, ceramic, and plastic to resemble or mimic the natural movement of the hip.

It is a surgical procedure that can improve mobility and reduce pain in patients who suffer from arthritis, fractures, degenerative diseases, and other such conditions.

Total Hip Replacement Surgery: How It Is Done

Pre-operative Evaluation

The patient is, therefore, subjected to a thorough medical evaluation before surgery carried out, which includes X-rays and blood tests, among other diagnostic assessments. These help the surgeon know the extent of the damage done to the hip and how he ought to proceed with the surgery. The overall health condition of the patient is, therefore, established to ensure the patient is in good health to undertake the procedure.

Anaesthesia

Total hip replacement is usually done under general anaesthesia, where the patient is completely unconscious, or spinal anaesthesia, where the lower half of the body is numbed and the patient is awake but pain-free.

Operative Procedure

An incision is made over the hip joint to expose the bad bone and cartilage. Then, the damaged femoral head is excised, and a metallic stem replaces it inside the thigh bone. A metal or ceramic ball is then placed on top of the stem, which will take on the position of the excised femoral head. In addition, the surgeon extracts the damaged cartilage and bone from the acetabulum and replaces it with a metal socket. It has a spacer, which is often made of plastic, between the replacement ball and socket for easy movement.

Postoperative Care

Patients are always taken to a recovery room right after surgery. In the early stages of the postoperative period, the concentration will be on pain control and mobility. Early physical therapy shall be commenced step-by-step to help re-establish hip joint strength and movement.

What Causes Total Hip Replacement?

There are several total hip replacement causes. The main causes include:

Osteoarthritis

It is a degenerative form of joint disease where the cartilage in the joint of the hip grinds down over time, making the bones rub against each other. This leads to chronic pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility. Thus, osteoarthritis is one of the predominant causes of the performance of a total hip replacement.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation in the joints; it can produce extreme destruction within the hip joint. Over time, this inflammation can destroy cartilage and bone to the point where patients cannot help moving about with pain.

Hip Fractures

Hip fractures are mostly due to traumatic accidents or falls and result in severe joint damage. When the injury cannot be rehabilitated or healed, it becomes one of the total hip replacement causes.

Avascular Necrosis

This is a condition where the blood supply going to the femoral head is impaired, resulting in a death of the bone tissue. Avascular necrosis can cause the femoral head to collapse, which leads to pain and immobility, a situation that can even result in total replacement of the hip.

Congenital Hip Dysplasia

Certain people are born with abnormalities in their hip joints. These abnormalities cause suffering and degeneration over time. Total hip replacement has emerged as the saviour for some people with severely malformed congenitally deformed hip joints.

Recovery after total hip replacement

For most patients, the recovery process following total hip replacement is critical and determines the entire success of surgery because it allows for significant alleviation of postoperative pain and improvements in mobility; however, the time taken on recovery would vary with the patient's health condition, age, and how closely he or she follows post-operative care.

Immediate Post-Operative Care

Physical Therapy

Reconstructive surgery usually includes a combination of physical therapy, such as exercises designed to prevent stiffness and promote quicker recovery. These exercises improve the strength, flexibility, and range of motion in the hip joint. Patients are given a set of exercises that enhance their strength, flexibility, and range of motion in the hip joint.

Pain Management

There are usually aches and pains associated with the first two weeks following surgery. Managing post-operative pain is usually accompanied by the prescription of painkillers. However, pain management should be tapered down in graduated intervals when attending to everyday activities.

Generally, the majority of patients are capable of returning to light activities 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. However, heavy exercises like running, sports, or heavy lifting might take several months to get back to normal. More importantly, a patient strictly adheres to recommendations

by a hip replacement doctor to prevent complications and ensure smooth recovery.