You do not have to live with a painful hip for the rest of your life. During this surgery your problem hip joint is replaced with an artificial joint (a prosthesis). After a total hip replacement, you can look forward to moving more easily and without pain.
Total hip replacement is a “quality of life” elective operation, offered to patients when their pain and disability are significant as a procedure that will decrease their discomfort.
The aim of the operation is to replace the head of the femur (ball) and the acetabulum (socket) with a man made device (prosthesis). The femoral component goes into the femoral canal and has a ball attached to the top. The acetabular component goes in to the socket in the pelvis and a liner is inserted into this. These devices are combinations of metal and plastic or ceramic on ceramic. They are fixed to the bone either using bone cement or by using a prosthesis with a rough surface, which relies on your bone growing on to the implant for long term stability.
Most people gain all the following benefits:
Patients who have arthritis on their X-ray and pain and stiffness from their hip joint that causes:
This operation is one of the most cost effective and beneficial operations done in surgery. Hip replacement surgery has evolved significantly over the last 40 years since first performed. There are improvements constantly being made but modern day hip replacements are extremely sophisticated and function well for many years.
However, there are risks in any operation. You can read about the general complications here. Some complications specific to total hip replacement are:
For appointments and enquiries please phone 02 9735 3637
Inner West Hip & Knee Clinic
16 Robert Street
Ashfield NSW 2131
Waratah Private Hospital
Suite 204, Level 2
31 Dora Street
Hurstville NSW 2220
office@hipandkneeclinic.com.au
Fax: 02 9735 3635