When to opt for the hip replacement treatment option?
- If the patient is suffering from pain and rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Aseptic bone necrosis of hip
- If it causes limitation in walking or impaired movement
- Limiting your daily activities
What are the common causes of hip pain?
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteonecrosis
- History of trauma to the hip area
- Childhood hip disease
- Post-traumatic arthritis
Who can be a good candidate for hip replacement surgery?
- Those who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis in the hip joint
- Damage to the cartilage surrounding the area.
- Due to aging issues or degenerative arthritis.
Apart from the above-mentioned reasons if you are suffering from
- Chronic joint pain
- Sometimes if you feel pain while resting also
- If you are feeling pain during rising or while standing from sitting positions
- If you are facing problems in performing day to day activities
- And even after taking medications or undergoing rehabilitation, you are not noticing any progress, your orthopedic surgeon will advise you to go for hip replacement surgery.
What are the precautions you should take before undergoing hip replacement surgery?
- Consult all your queries related to the procedure with your surgeons and clear your doubts.
- Make sure you inform all your past and present medical history to your doctor.
- If you are prone to some allergic reactions or you are taking any herbal supplements, you need to mention that too.
- If you are under any medications especially on blood thinners like aspirin or some NSAIDs like ibuprofen, naproxen you should inform your doc and stop or adjust the dosage of those medications before surgery according to your physician’s advice.
- If you are anemic, you should start having iron supplements before you go for surgery.
- Women on OCP(Oral contraceptive pill) should stop taking pills at least before one month of surgery.
After getting confirmation from the lab reports and medical examination that you are undergoing total hip replacement surgery, your surgeon or medical personnel will guide you and your family about the Dos and Don’ts before surgery. You should also discuss whether a complete or partial hip replacement surgery will be necessary for you or not to imp[rove the function of the hip joint or to alleviate the joint pain you are suffering from.
Who does not make a good candidate for hip replacement surgery?
If the patient is having the following ailments, he/she will not be a good candidate for the surgical procedure.
- A person suffering from high blood pressure
- A person is having systemic diseases
- Poor overall health
- Urinary infection
- Implant or the prosthetic material can cause infection
Will hip replacement surgery be suitable for you?
This decision will be based on the evaluation of your test results and a thorough medical check-up done by your doctor and your orthopedic surgeon. Generally, these cases are referred by a primary doctor to an orthopedic surgeon.
What are the different types of hip replacement?
- Total hip replacement or hip arthroplasty- in this procedure, the end of the thigh bone which is diseased by arthritis can be shaved off and a metal stem is placed into the hollow space of the femur which can be press-fit or cemented into the hip bone.
- A metal or ceramic ball is placed over the metal stem which represents the damaged femoral head.
- Damaged cartilage surface of acetabulum is removed and replaced with a metal cap which can be held in place with the screw or with cement.
- A plastic liner or metal spacer is placed between the metal ball and the metal cap for easy gliding of the whole prosthesis.
- Proxima hip replacement or partial arthroplasty- this surgical technique is most suitable for young patients and it is minimally invasive as well.
- Here the damaged part of the thigh bone is shaped and replaced by a metalhead which sits into the socket(made up of a metal cap).
- As this is a conservative surgical procedure, the recovery time will also be less in these cases.
- Other than that in severe arthritis cases, bilateral or revised arthroplasty can be done.
What are the post-operative instructions you need to follow after getting discharged from the hospital?
- Avoid vigorous cardio training or weight lifting.
- Heavy physical activities
- Squatting
- Use of Indian commode
- Avoid sitting on the floor with cross leg posture
- A stable chair or high raised bench is a must for shower
- A stable chair with a firm cushion or pillow allows staying your knees at the lower position of the hip.
- A handy reach that will allow grabbing all the substances lying on the floor without much bending.
- Fixed and secured handrails for all the stairways.
- Remove all the electric cords, loose carpets, or doormats which can increase the risk of falling while walking.
What are post-operative instructions you have to follow for recovery?
You have to follow all the instructions mentioned by your orthopedic surgeon during a few weeks after surgery.
- Pain management- NSAIDs, acetaminophen, opioids, anesthetic agents are given to the patient to reduce the pain after the surgery. You should consult with your doctor immediately if your pain has not come down even after taking the medications.
- The stitches and surgical stapler can be removed after 2 weeks of surgery. You should do proper wound dressing with the bandage as shown by your medical personnel to avoid any irritation by the clothes or support garments over the area.
- A balanced diet with supplements is a must for post-operative recovery. Always try to stay hydrated.
What are the FAQs you should ask your surgeon about after hip replacement surgery?
- What are all the medications you have to take?
- Will there be any follow-up visits?
- When can you resume your work and regular lifestyle?
- When can you start doing exercises?
- How to do the postoperative wound management and when the stitches will be removed?
What are some FAQs you should ask your surgeon about the hip replacement procedure?
- What is the success rate of hip replacement surgeries done by your surgeon?
- Will the new hip prosthesis start acting right after the replacement?
When could you resume your daily activities after surgery?
After 3-6 weeks of surgery, with the gradual increase in walking or your daily activities, you can resume your everyday lifestyle.
What is the expected result of a hip replacement surgical procedure?
The surgical outcome can vary from person to person. You should discuss your expectations from the surgery with your surgeon before the surgery. After undergoing the hip replacement surgery patients can get relief from the pain and can resume their daily activities without any limitation. If the patient is having any leg deformity and you want to for the correction of that, you should consult with your orthopedic surgeon.
How is your new hip different from the natural?
You might need a little bit of time to get habituated with the prosthesis. You can feel little numbness around the incision area and stiffness while bending. But patients are way more comfortable facing these issues rather than suffering from unbearable pain. After getting this prosthesis, you might have to inform the security area of airports that you have undergone hip implant prosthesis as these will be detected by metal detectors and the alarm can get activated.
What are the complications you might feel after the surgery?
- Infection
- Blood clot
- Unequal leg length
- Loosening of prosthesis wear
- Dislocation
- Pulmonary embolism
After how many days the patient can get discharged from the hospital?
The patient can get discharged after 5 days of surgery.
How to choose doctors if you want to go for a hip replacement surgical procedure?
- You can go through the reviews of those who have already been through hip replacement surgical procedures in multiple medical forums and if you are worried about some negative review, you can always consult with your doctor about the matter.
- Look for the experience of general surgeons and positive patient stories.
- You can also look for the success rate of hip replacement surgery done by your surgeon.
Who are the best doctors for performing hip replacement surgery?
Well-experienced and board-certified general surgeons and orthopedic surgeons can perform the procedure. And make sure to check the accreditation of the hospital from where you are getting your hip replacement surgery done.
Why should you go for hip replacement surgery in India?
Along with the high-quality lifestyle here in India, it is the best place to get well-experienced and skilled surgeons who are comfortable with the best and latest available technology. You will get personalized care from trained medical personnel. Hence it ensures shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery.
Any botched-up case of hip replacement surgery in India?
To date no such cases have been reported as here in India, surgeons are way more skilled and experienced. But to avoid these kinds of cases, you should choose your surgeon carefully.
Do you feel that the cost is way out of your budget? Are you looking for insurance?
In India, the majority of health insurance coverage is for serious ailments. That’s why the chances of getting coverage for the procedure are higher. You can consult with your financial advisor related to the matter and explore the possibilities along with your surgeon. Though nowadays EMI facilities are available in some financial agencies. Even after that, you are feeling it’s difficult for you to avail yourself of the insurance, you can always ask your doctor to write one letter to your insurer describing the importance of this surgery on your health. If your insurance company provides coverage also, it will bear a partial amount of its budget. So make sure you read the details and go for it. Even if your insurance company bears it now, you might have to pay a higher premium for later.
Takeaway- if your orthopedic surgeon is suggesting you go for a hip replacement surgical procedure, you should go for it without any hesitation. Even after this, you are confused about your next step, you can always reach us.
We are always there to help you out as our collaboration with specialized doctors can provide quality treatment to you and your family.
