What is a hip replacement?
A hip replacement is a common type of surgery where a damaged hip joint is replaced with an artificial one, or a prosthetic implant. This can be performed as a total replacement or a hemi replacement.
The implants are made of metal, ceramic and very hard plastic, depending on the part of the hip that are replaced.
Hip replacement are a highly successful surgery, and is mostly performed to relieve hip pain caused by hip arthritis. This procedure is also sometimes used to treat injuries such as a broken or improperly growing hip.
The different types of hip replacement:
Also called total hip arthroplasty, and most common type.
The socket and femoral head was replaced with the following:
Socket: Durable plastic cup, with/without titanium metal shell.
Femoral head: replaced with ball made from ceramic or metal alloy, where it was attached to metal stem and inserted into top of femur.
Also called hemiarthroplasty, where only one side of the hip joint (the femoral head) are being replaced. Appropriate for patients of specific age groups and activity level (same as hip resurfacing surgery). This procedure is done where older patients has fractured their hip.
With this procedure, the femoral head and socket is mostly done in younger and active patients.
Pre-op Therapy
There is cases where patient’s activity has decreased in time because of pain and discomfort in the hip. With this, muscles aren’t being used and causes muscles weakness, and even decrease in you flexibility.
To start an exercise program before surgery can help your recovery time much shorter and easier. The best is to seek help with a professional to include exercises’ intensity and frequency that will not do more harm. It very important to keep in mind that every body’s response to exercise, is different.
If you do experience a lot of discomfort and pain during pre-op exercises, there is more option that make exercise a bit easier. Firstly you can start doing your exercises in seated or lying position. A very effective way to do your exercises, is in a heated pool. This is called Hydrotherapy, which was done by Biokineticist.
Post-op Therapy
From the operation, things will start getting better and easier. Recovery time will noticeably be faster, if follow your doctor and therapist’s instruction.
The pain management team will assess your medication and use a multifaceted approach to ensure comfort and mobility during the rehabilitation process.
Your rehabilitation will start within 24 hours with your physical therapist – this will be your Physiotherapist that will work with in Hospital. Simple tasks like sitting up, getting in and out of your bed, walking and climbing stairs using a walker, cane or crutches will be performed with assistance of your Physiotherapist.
From here, physical therapy, or ‘rehab’, outside the hospital will continue, up to a point where you can fully resume your daily activities (6-8weeks).
Keep in mind, that having your hip surgery will correct the joint problem, but you will need a regular exercise program to strengthen and stretch your muscles to properly support your new joint. This will help to improve your strength, flexibility, joint motion and balance. Body mechanics and posture will have to be included to exercise therapy, especially for older adults for they are a greater risk for falls.
Now, from here …
So, if you are looking after yourself, and your ‘new’ hip so to speak, your prosthesis should remain effective for between 10 and 20 years. And some can last longer….
Just to prove this statement: according to a study in 2008, of more than 50 000 patients who had Total Hip Replacement at age 55 or older, between 71% and 94% still had well-working implants after 15 years.
