The hip joint is located at the base of the torso where the pelvis and legs meet. This joint is usually painful in elderly individuals and in patients who suffer from arthritis. Injuries may also affect the hip joint but these usually heal themselves. The most commonly affected individuals are elderly individuals who tend to suffer from hip damage due to years of wear and tear. It is these people who often require hip replacement surgery.
Hip replacement surgery is a surgical procedure to replace the joint with an implant. This implant performs the functions of the hip joint but will be new and therefore correctly aligned. Often, due to inflammation and misalignment, the original hip joint wears down to the point where replacement is the only option to ensure that the individual can resume normal physical functions. There are two types of hip replacement surgery; mainly the complete hip replacement surgery and a partial hip replacement surgery. A partial hip replacement surgery involves the replacement of only one side of the hip joint whereas complete hip replacement surgery involves the replacement of both sides of the joint.
Hip replacement surgery is conducted under complete anesthesia in a hospital room. Patients need to spend a few days in hospital before and after the procedure. Unless it is a case of an accidental injury, hip replacement surgery is usually planned over time as the patient’s doctor will realize that there is no other option for curing the pain being experienced by the individual. Patients therefore often have time to prepare for the procedure financially as well as in terms of having the adequate after care ready. Most patients who undergo a hip replacement surgery tend to suffer from limited mobility in the first place. The hip replacement surgery and recovery time would depend largely on the way the surgery was conducted. Initially, the patient may be restricted to a wheelchair as the surgery wound heals. Once this is done, the patient will be given small exercises and allowed to walk small distances. Over time, the recovery after hip replacement surgery will involve physiotherapy as well. In some cases, full mobility is achieved by patients whereas in other cases, patients may recover some of their mobility. The main aim of the surgery is to cure the pain that is affecting the patient.
Patients should consult with their doctors regarding hip replacement surgery cost as these costs tend to vary from place to place. The hip replacement surgery cost also depends on the type of hip replacement being planned. Hip replacement surgery complications are something that cannot be avoided but could be kept to the minimum. It is therefore necessary to speak to your doctor on the hip replacement surgery risks that could affect the individual.