arthritis

Are you finding wearing socks and shoes difficult? If you have been finding the process of walking difficult without support, or if any past fracture or arthritis has damaged the hip, you must consider a total or partial hip replacement.

First performed in the 1960s, hip replacement surgery has come a long way in helping patients get out of the pain in the hip and any immobility that arises because of hip pain.

What is Hip Replacement Surgery?

Hip replacement is the procedure in which the parts of the hip joints are replaced by artificial implants called a prosthesis. You may be advised for total hip replacement surgery or even a partial hip replacement surgery. The portions of the femur (thigh bone) and pelvis that form the hip joint are removed and replaced. 

Most people between the age of 60 and 80 years must consider the process of minimally invasive hip replacement. The surgeon makes an incision in the hip after giving you anesthesia and then removes the damaged hip to replace it with the artificial joint or implant. 

Hip Replacement surgery is a process of almost two hours and is known to cure pain and immobility caused by arthritis or improperly growing hip. It is a complex surgery and the success involves dexterity in the hands of the surgeon.

Dr. Tanveer Bhutani, an acclaimed orthopedic in North India, is the best at hip replacement surgery. He has performed many hip replacement surgeries successfully with complete precision and perfection.

Should you consider Hip Replacement Surgery?

If arthritis has been a cause of worry and has caused severe hip pain that is not relieved by medications and physiotherapy, the hip replacement must be considered to relieve the debilitating pain.

If you feel the pain in the hip has been interfering with the regular movement and making walking or motion difficult, you are the right candidate for hip replacement surgery.  

“Osteoarthritis is the main cause of hip immobility in many patients. It is the single most important cause of over 60% of hip replacement surgeries,” says Dr. Bhutani. If you have been ailing from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, hip fracture, or septic arthritis, your surgeon may consider hip replacement surgery after monitoring and examining you physically. 

Also, read- How to make your bones stronger with increasing age.

What is Better- Cemented or Uncemented Hip Replacement Procedure?

In the process of the surgery of hip replacement, the orthopedic surgeon will replace the existing hip joints with artificial prosthesis. The prosthetic element has to adhere to the patient’s natural bone. This can be achieved in either of the following two ways:

Cemented Joint Prosthesis

This procedure uses fast-drying bone cement to help the prosthesis adhere to the bone.

Uncemented Joint Prosthesis

This is called the cementless or the press-fit prosthesis. In this process, the cementless prosthesis is textured in a way that allows the bone to grow onto it and adhere to the prosthesis over a span of time.

The orthopedic surgeon may use cemented or cementless prosthesis or a combination of the two after talking to the patient. 

The choice of the component is contingent on the following:

• The type of hip replacement surgery done
• The psychology of the patient
• The requirement is according to the acumen of the surgeon.

Weigh the Pros and Cons of the Type of Prosthesis 

The cemented prosthesis is majorly a layer of cement called acrylic polymer and this forms a layer between the patient’s natural bone and the prosthetic component.

This allows the bones which have become porous from osteoporosis to heal and affix to the prosthetic joint. The application of bone cement is a process of not more than a couple of minutes and this gives the orthopedic a surety of the positioning of the prosthetic joint component.

Another advantage of the cemented joint is that it comes with an antibiotic material that helps in the quick healing of any post-surgical infection.

However, Dr. Tanveer warns that the application of the cemented joint prosthesis has to be done by a proficient orthopedic.

There are chances that the artificial joint comes loose and the whole surgical process is rendered futile; there may be a chance that cement can enter the bloodstream and be detrimental to the lungs. 

Seeing the negative impact of the cemented prosthesis, Dr. Tanveer advocates cementless or press-fit prosthesis.

The expertise of the orthopedic is in fitting the prosthesis in a way that the natural bone grows in the shape and direction of the prosthesis.

A cementless prosthesis holds the prosthesis and bone in a better way and rules out the risk of any loose cement entering the bloodstream. The orthopedic will observe the bone density according to the severity of osteoporosis and accordingly administer precautions.

What is the Recovery Time of Hip Replacement Surgery?

Hip Replacement is a procedure of four to six days to stay in the hospital. The orthopedic will start the physiotherapy within a day of the surgery and you will be advised to walk with support within one or two days of the surgery.

You will be able to resume your routine activities within 3 to 6 weeks of total hip replacement surgery. There may be surgical pain for the initial one or two days but you will be relieved from the excruciating arthritis pain right away after the surgery.

Dr. Tanveer says a hip replacement is a procedure more than 50 years old and has evolved ever since. It is a safe surgery to undergo if you want to alleviate the pain and suffering in the hips and enhance your mobility. 

Conclusion

Nearly 30,000 total hip replacements take place in the U.S. each year. If the pain in the hip or arthritis has been affecting your daily life and movement, hip replacement is the cure. For the most effective surgery and the genuine diagnosis and check-up, rush to the best orthopedic in Punjab, Dr. Tanveer Bhutani, EVA Hospital, and get back to the normal pain-free routine. Check out our patient testimonial for hip replacement.