Hip replacement is a surgical operation in which the hip joint is replaced with a prosthetic one. Hip replacement surgery is also known as hip arthroplasty, and it is one of the most performed procedures in orthopedic surgeries with high success rate. In a study by Soderman P et al. to study the long-term outcomes after hip arthroplasty surgery. They founded that hip replacement surgery success rate was more than 90% after more than ten years following the procedure.
Over years, the number of replaced hip joints per year are increasing. One million arthroplasties are done every year, and the numbered were doubled in twenty years. According to centers for diseases control and prevention, there were more than 234,000 total hip arthroplasty surgery in 2004.
Hip replacement surgery means changing the whole joint in a surgery known as total hip replacement surgery, while changing only the femoral head of femur in a procedure known as hemiarthroplasty surgery.
Hip replacement surgery can relieve patient’s pain, improving his mobility, daily activity, and the patient quality of life. Hip arthroplasty surgery have good prognosis for many years following the procedure.
Preoperative preparation of the patient
When patient with severe hip joint arthritis and pain interfere with his daily activity seeks treatment, the American academy of orthopedic surgeons recommends that all patients should be put on medical treatment and physical therapy modalities as first line treatment before shifting to surgery. Non-surgical interventions that can be tried first:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
- Encouraging the patient to lose weight
- Physical therapy
- Corticosteroid therapy either by local injection or oral steroids under medical supervision
