We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Hip Arthroplasty?

By K T Solis
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 10,805
Share

Hip arthroplasty is a surgery that is used to replace all or part of a patient's hip joint with a prosthetic hip. Patients who receive hip arthroplasty are candidates for this surgery because of tumors in the hip joint, severe arthritis which causes debilitating pain, or fractures in the neck of the femur. This procedure is mainly performed on people who are at least 60 years old. Younger people are not good candidates for the operation.

The prosthetic hip is comprised of three parts. The first part is a cup made from plastic, metal, or ceramic, used to replace the patient's hip socket. The second part of the prosthetic hip is a ceramic or metal ball. This serves as a replacement for the thigh bone's fractured head. The final part of the prosthetic hip is a metal stem. This stem is connected to the bone shaft, adding a stable basis for the prosthesis.

Before the surgeon performs hip arthroplasty on a patient, the patient must be evaluated to determine if he or she is the ideal candidate for the procedure. The patient's level of disability, lifestyle, and other medical problems will be assessed before the decision is made. The doctor will ensure that the patient's heart and lungs are healthy before approving this type of surgery.

Once a patient is scheduled for the hip arthroplasty, he or she is given general or spinal anesthesia. After the hip joint is exposed, the surgeon removes the head of the thigh bone. He or she then cleans the hip socket. A tool called a reamer is used to remove arthritic bone and cartilage around the hip socket area. After this occurs, the surgeon places the new socket into position. The metal stem is placed inside the thigh bone.

Next, the artificial parts of the new hip are put into position. Finally, the patient's muscles and tendons are replaced and the wound is closed. Patients wear compression stockings immediately following the procedure to help reduce the formation of blood clots.

Most patients experience varying degrees of pain following the surgery, so medical professionals prescribe them appropriate pain medication. The medication will be administered through an epidural, a patient-controlled device, or intravenously. After three days have passed, the pain has usually decreased and oral pain medication is usually enough to control any remaining discomfort.

While in bed, the patient is instructed on how to perform special ankle exercises in order to prevent blood clots from developing. The day following the surgery, the patient is encouraged to leave bed and sit in a chair. Patients are encouraged to start walking and moving as soon as possible. Most patients remain in the hospital for about three to five days after surgery.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-hip-arthroplasty.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.