At SSM DePaul, our orthopedic surgeons specialize in Total Hip Joint Replacement surgery. Each patient is cared for by a highly experienced team of orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and physical therapists who will guide them from pre-surgery education through post-surgery rehabilitation and recovery.
Who is a candidate?
Total hip replacements are usually performed for arthritic conditions, especially osteoarthritis, but may sometimes be recommended in the case of hip fracture or avascular necrosis, a condition in which the bone of the ball portion of the hip dies. While most patients with artificial hips are over 55 years of age, the operation is occasionally performed on younger people.
The joints of our bodies are cushioned with a material called cartilage, and as we age, normal wear and tear (or degeneration) of the cartilage takes place in most joints. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage cushioning the bone surfaces wears away, causing the bones to rub against each other in a painful way.
Surgical Treatment Options
During a total hip replacement surgery, the diseased cartilage and bone of the hip joint is replaced with artificial materials. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. The socket is a "cup- shaped" bone of the pelvis called the acetabulum. The ball is the head of the thigh bone (femur). During total hip joint replacement, the diseased ball and socket are replaced with a metal ball and stem inserted into the femur bone and an artificial plastic cup socket.
Traditional Hip Replacement surgery involves making a 10-inch to 12-inch incision on the side of the hip. The muscles are split or detached from the hip. The hip is dislocated.
Minimal Incision Hip Replacement surgery lets the surgeon perform hip replacement through one or two smaller incisions. Compared with most people getting hip replacements, candidates for minimal incision procedures are typically younger, healthier and more active adults.
A single minimally invasive hip incision may measure only 3-inches to 6-inches. The incision is usually placed over the outside of the hip. The muscles and tendons are split or detached, but to a lesser extent than in the traditional hip replacement operation. They are routinely repaired after the surgeon places the implants. This helps healing and helps prevent dislocation of the hip.
Two-incision hip replacement involves making a 2-inch to 3-inch incision over the groin for placement of the socket and a 1-inch to 2-inch incision over the buttock for placement of the stem. To perform the two-incision procedure, the surgeon needs guidance from X-rays. It may take up to two or three times as long to perform this surgery, as it takes to perform traditional hip replacement surgery.
Early studies suggest that minimally invasive hip replacement surgery provides patients with less pain, less muscle damage, faster rehabilitation and a shorter hospital stay.
Before you decide to have a minimally invasive hip replacement, get a thorough evaluation from the operating surgeon. Discuss with him or her about the risks and benefits. Both traditional and minimally invasive hip replacement procedures are technically demanding. They require that the surgeon and operating team have considerable experience.
Recovery
More than 90 percent of hip replacements last for 10 years or more. Pain and mobility improve after hip replacement. This allows patients to maintain their independence and quality of life.