Hip arthroplasty or hip replacement is a surgical procedure which is done to totally or partially replace the hip joint. There are many indications for hip arthroplasty, and in most cases it helps patients lead a better life. Hip arthroplasty can also have some risks and complications as well.
What is Hip Arthroplasty?
Hip arthroplasty is the surgical procedure in which the hip joint is totally or partially replaced by a prosthetic hip implant. Usually this procedure is recommended to patients who suffer from arthritis or have suffered a fracture that has caused immense damage to the hip joint. There are two types of hip arthroplasty:
- Hemiarthroplasty:
In this procedure only half of the hip joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant. Usually this surgery replaces the femoral head only. The femur is the longest bone in the body which joins the knee to the hip.
- Complete Hip Arthroplasty:
This is an orthopedic surgery in which the hip joint is completely replaced by a prosthetic implant. This surgery is usually done in patients who suffer from severe arthritis pain, or who have irreparably fractured their hip joint due to injury. In a complete hip arthroplasty, both the femoral head, and the acetabulum are replaced by an implant.
Indications Of Hip Arthroplasty:
Hip arthroplasty is usually done to alleviate pain, or to help the patient regain function of the hip joint. The following conditions usually require hip arthroplasty, if all other options such as medication and physiotherapy of the hip joint have failed.
- Joint failure due to osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Traumatic arthritis
- Avascular necrosis (damage to loss of blood supply)
- Ankylosing spondylitis of the hip joint
- Bone tumors
- Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis
- Joint fracture due to injury or fall
Complications And Risks
Although hip arthroplasty is a very common surgical procedure, not all patients have the same results. Like all joint replacement surgeries, the complications and risks of hip arthroplasty are many. Some of the more common complications include infection, joint loosening, dislocation of the joint, osteolysis (breakdown of the bone), nerve damage, the body”s reaction to the metal implant, impingement, pain and even death.
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