Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Total Hip Replacement Surgery (THR)

Also known as Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), is one of the most common and successfully performed orthopaedic surgical procedures.
 

It involves replacing the deteriorated or damaged hip joint (ball & socket) with an artificial implant (prosthesis) designed to replicate as much as possible, the strength and functionality of the natural hip joint.  It is usually offered when more conservative treatments have failed.  THR reduces or eliminates pain, returns mobility and permits patients to lead normal active lives once again. 
 
Before a patient’s candidacy for treatment is confirmed, a surgeon assesses the case carefully, ascertaining that the hip is really the actual site of pathology, as pain in the hip can originate from both the knee and back, and then considering the patient’s age, life style and activity levels as well as the patient’s expectations of surgery before deciding upon the most appropriate treatment plan, prosthesis (implant) and recovery programme.

THR surgery is a minimially invasive procedure and the actual surgery lasts approximately 60 minutes, however this varies depending on the complexity of each case. The post-operative hospital stay depends on the patient´s age and/or recovery progress but is usually between 4 - 7 days.

During the three weeks following the operation, a patient is able to lead a comfortable life however movement of the hip is limited. The rehabilitation period is between three to nine weeks with the patient being monitored by doctors.  The majority of patients who undergo THR surgery and therapy are able to resume normal activity 3 months after surgery. The longevity of prosthetic hips varies, however they usually last up to 15 years. 

Advances in minimally invasive techniques, implant design and materials and the extensive experience of our Orthopaedic teams have made prosthetic hip surgery a safe and commonly performed procedure benefiting patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, malformation/abnormalities of the hip and fractures. The aim of a modern total hip replacement (THR) is to place an implant which functions as normally as possible and is as resistant to dislocation as possible. 

The significant rise in hip disorders in recent years amongst the under 50’s and those suffering from obesity has led to a large increase in the number of hip replacement surgeries being performed globally. Furthermore because much younger patients are requiring surgery, the number of hip replacement ‘revision’ surgeries required in the future is also set to increase. This considered, modern prostheses have been designed to preserve most of the bone and have incorporated minimum wear mechanisms (bearing surfaces) in order to prolong the life of the prosthesis whilst at the same time facilitating for possible future replacement if necessary.

Other commonly performed hip procedures are:

-Prosthetic Hip Replacement Surgery
-Partial Hip Replacement Surgery (Hemiarthroplasty)
-Arthroscopic Hip Surgery

For more information on orthopaedic procedures or to arrange a consultation, please complete our enquiry form or contact Medical Advantage Barcelona at info@medabcn.com