HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY

HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY

What is hip replacement surgery?

Hip replacement is an artificial joint replacement of the damaged joint, which causes pain and functional limitation in severely abraded patients due to aging, excessive use or trauma. Artificial joint placed in the joint consists of cobalt chromium, titanium, plastic, metal and ceramic fragments. There are two types of hip prosthesis surgery. In elderly patients, hip prosthesis is supported by a filling material called cement because of the low bone quality. Such hip prostheses are known as cemented prostheses. In younger patients, the hip prosthesis with pores is firmly placed in the hip because of the better bone quality. Such hip prostheses are known as cementless prostheses. Hip prosthesis surgery has been done since 1960’s while with the application of developed technology many successful hip surgeries can be done today.

Who should perform hip replacement surgery?

Hip prostate surgery is a surgical treatment method applied to patients with hip pain and limitation of movement, and who cannot respond to treatment methods such as drug therapy, physical therapy, use of ancillary devices and intraarticular injection methods, and restrictive daily life activities. Hip prosthesis surgery is frequently performed in patients whose hip has been severely damaged due to arthritis, hip dislocation, hip fracture or malnutrition. Hip prosthesis surgery is often applied to patients over 60 years of age but can also be performed at earlier ages due to rheumatic diseases, fractures and malnutrition of the hip joint.

How is hip prosthesis surgery done?

Patients eligible for hip replacement surgery are determined by tests and physical examinations to be performed by an orthopedic specialist. Patients are evaluated by the anesthesiologist with blood test, lung film and ECG in terms of compliance with the procedure, after the recruitment of informed consent form of candidate patients for hip replacement surgery. After the appropriate anesthesia is performed in the operation, the hip joint is reached with the incision made from the side of your hip. The ball-shaped portion of the thigh bone is cut and the hip prosthesis is inserted, and the ball-shaped prosthesis piece is fixed to the bone with or without cement. Hip prosthesis surgery takes about 2-4 hours.

After hip replacement surgery

Epidural pain pumps can be used to control hip pain that may develop postoperatively. In the first few days, special pillows can be placed between the legs in the shape of a triangle so that the applied hip prosthesis does not come out. The day after the operation, the patient can lift the foot, stepping on the edge of the bed without giving full load to the hip. A few days after the surgery, the patients can start walking with crutch in short distances. After the surgery, patients are discharged within 3-7 days. Patients should not cross their legs in the first 8-12 weeks after surgery, not sit on very low grounds, not lift their knees up from the hip level, not crouch, not use the squat toilet (requires crouching), and not lean forward too much to stand up to avoid displace hip prosthesis. Patients should use ancillary devices during the first 3-6 months after surgery. Running, doing sports that require bounce is not advisable after hip prosthesis. Activities such as walking and swimming that do not overload the hip are the most suitable sports for hip prosthesis.

In a large proportion of patients undergoing hip replacement surgery, significant improvement in hip pain is achieved. Patients’ painless walking distance increase and they become functionally independent in their everyday lives. Up to 2-3 cm improvement in leg shortness can be achieved.

After hip prosthesis surgery, undesirable results such as clot formation in veins due to slowing of circulation in blood vessels, prosthetic infections, non-healing wound, and fractures in bones adjacent to the prosthesis are uncommon but possible.

Today, with the right technique, the life expectancy of knee prosthesis is about 15-20 years. Worn-out and loosened prostheses can be replaced with a second operation, but this operation is a more difficult operation.