Hip Prosthesis surgery is a procedure in which a damaged or arthritic hip joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint (made of metal, ceramic, or special plastic components). It is typically preferred in cases of advanced osteoarthritis or hip fracture where patients experience severe pain and limited mobility.
✓What is Hip Prosthesis?
✓The hip is a joint that connects the femur to the pelvis. The top of the thighbone has a ball-shaped end that fits into a socket. The hip is the most flexible joint in the body and can move forward, backward, and sideways. Hip Prosthesis are artificial medical materials placed to replace the part of the hip that needs to be replaced. When other treatments do not help and there is serious hip damage that prevents the person from living a normal life, Hip Prosthesis is usually recommended.
✓Hip Prosthesis can be manufactured from metal or plastic. For Hip Prosthesis surgery, the parts that need to be replaced are separated and removed from the joint. A prosthesis is placed in place of the removed part. There are different types of Hip Prosthesis: partial and total.
✓Total Hip Prosthesis
✓Total Hip Prosthesis is the most common hip surgery. In this prosthesis, a prosthesis is used to replace the entire hip. During the procedure, surgeons place a stem in the patient's femur or thighbone. They replace the head of the thighbone with a ball and the natural socket in the hip joint with an artificial cup.
✓Partial Hip Prosthesis
✓Partial Hip Prosthesis removes and replaces the femoral head or thighbone. A ceramic or metal ball is attached to the top of a stem placed in the center of the femur. Surgeons typically perform this surgery to repair certain types of hip fractures.
✓Who is Hip Prosthesis Surgery Suitable For?
✓Not everyone with hip pain needs Hip Prosthesis surgery. However, if pain prevents you from performing daily tasks or walking independently, Hip Prosthesis can usually help improve quality of life. Total Hip Prosthesis involves implanting the hip without cement and replacing the ball-shaped portion on the hip. Different conditions and excessive wear and tear, factors that can occur throughout life, can affect the hip, causing increased pain and difficulty walking. Hip Prosthesis surgery is usually preferred when the hip joint is damaged resulting in reduced mobility. Besides this, feeling pain in the hip area even during rest is also a reason for surgery. The most common reason for Hip Prosthesis surgery is osteoarthritis, known as calcification.
✓Conditions Requiring Replacement of Hip Components with Prosthesis
✓- Limitation in physical activities due to hip pain
✓- Hip pain that continues during rest
✓- Pain in the front hip and groin
✓- Osteoarthritis
✓- Inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis)
✓- Femoroacetabular impingement
✓- Hip fracture
✓- Hip dislocation
✓- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
✓- Slipped femoral capital epiphysis
✓- Childhood hip disorders
✓Possible Benefits Provided by Hip Prosthesis Use
✓- Improved mobility
✓- Relief of pain due to hip damage
✓- Improved coordination of torso and leg
✓- Facilitating physical activities in daily life
✓How is Hip Prosthesis Surgery Performed?
✓There are various surgical methods for Hip Prosthesis. Minimally invasive Hip Prosthesis surgery is a surgery used for any type of surgery that is less invasive than traditional or open surgery. Minimally invasive Hip Prosthesis use fewer and smaller incisions around the hip joint. The most suitable candidates for minimally invasive hip replacements are typically individuals with minimal or moderate deformity. However, when large portions of the hip need to be replaced, open surgery is preferred. Open surgeries are standard surgical types performed with wide incisions.
✓When total hip arthroplasty is planned, a surgeon replaces the necessary parts of the hip with a solid implant made of plastic and metal. At the same time, the femoral head is also replaced during this surgery. Hip Prosthesis can be performed under general anesthesia or epidural anesthesia. Epidural anesthesia is an anesthesia method in which the lower part of the body is numbed. This method can be used in people who do not need to be put under general anesthesia. When surgeons perform Hip Prosthesis surgery, they use procedures that can be applied by making an incision from the back or front. The completion of the surgery usually takes approximately 60-90 minutes.
✓How Long Does the Patient Stay in the Hospital After Hip Prosthesis Surgery?
✓When total Hip Prosthesis surgery is performed unilaterally, usually 3 nights of hospitalization is sufficient. If the patient has had total Hip Prosthesis surgery on both hips in the same operation, this period can be 5 nights. The patient's general condition before surgery, the patient's age, and whether the patient has any additional diseases are factors that affect the length of hospital stay after surgery.
✓Another factor affecting the length of hospital stay is the condition of post-operative rehabilitation. When the patient is discharged, they should be able to sit up and get out of bed with assistance, walk in their room and in the corridor outside the room with the help of a walker, and sit on a western toilet. For the patient to be able to do these things, it is important that the hip joint's bending angle is 90 degrees when discharged from the hospital.
A dressing is applied after surgery to keep the hip in place for 1 week. The stitches closing the incision are removed approximately 10-14 days after surgery and may be replaced with sterile strips. If your surgeon used adhesive to close the wound, the end stitches will gradually fall out approximately 1 month later.
Everyone recovers differently after Hip Prosthesis or revision surgery. What is important is to continue moving, but not to rush yourself and to support becoming gradually more active.
You may need to stay in the hospital for a few days after surgery. During the first 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, crutches may be needed to make walking easier and reduce pressure on the hip. Most people are encouraged to walk with a walking aid immediately after surgery. Within an average of 2 to 3 months, the patient shows recovery that allows them to continue their normal activities. However, returning the entire body to normal activity after implant can take up to a year. During the first 3 months, the patient should avoid sitting in low chairs, running, squatting, and jumping.
Additionally, the person may need to start an exercise program under doctor supervision to get used to the hip implant. The surgeon informs the person about which activities they can do after surgery and prescribes medication to be used after surgery.
Hip Prosthesis Surgery Risks
Every surgical procedure carries some risks, and Hip Prosthesis surgery is no exception. Being aware of potential risks helps you make informed decisions. Here are the potential risks:
Infection
Clotting
Types of Hip Prosthesis
Total Hip Prosthesis: It is the most frequently performed Hip Prosthesis surgery type. An artificial joint is created by replacing both sides of the joint surfaces.
Partial Hip Prosthesis: Unlike total Hip Prosthesis, only the head-neck portion of the femur among the joint surfaces is replaced. This type of surgery is especially performed for hip fractures in elderly patients where healing is impossible.
Surface Replacement Prosthesis: Both surfaces of the joint are replaced. It is applied in young active patients with joint arthritis. Not every patient may be suitable for this surgery.
How Does Recovery Progress After Hip Fracture Surgery?
Hip fracture surgery is generally an emergency procedure where the hip bone broken as a result of a fall or trauma is repaired with fixation materials such as screws and plates, or with a prosthesis. Unlike Hip Prosthesis surgery planned due to arthritis, in this case the underlying condition is a sudden fracture; therefore, the course and duration of recovery may vary. I would like to point out to those researching "reviews of people who had hip fracture surgery": the type of fracture, bone quality, and the applied method directly affect the outcome.
When do people who have had Hip Prosthesis surgery return to normal life?
Most applicants begin walking with support in the first days, and the need for support decreases in the following weeks. Many people can continue their daily activities largely independently within a few months. The duration varies depending on age, bone quality, and general condition. We will evaluate the expected return timeline for you together during the examination.
What is the difference between hip fracture surgery and Hip Prosthesis surgery?
Hip fracture surgery is often an emergency procedure where the broken bone following trauma is fixed with screws and plates or repaired with a prosthesis. Hip Prosthesis, on the other hand, is usually planned due to arthritis or necrosis, and the joint surfaces are replaced with artificial implants. Which method is appropriate is determined after imaging and examination.
Which age group is Hip Prosthesis surgery most commonly applied to?
Hip Prosthesis is most frequently applied to the middle-to-advanced age group where advanced stages of hip arthritis are seen. However, it can also be applied to young people due to reasons such as avascular necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or congenital hip dislocation. Age alone is not the determining factor; suitability is evaluated during examination based on the person's joint condition and overall health.
How Long Does Hip Prosthesis Surgery Take?
Hip Prosthesis surgery is a procedure that takes an average of 1-1.5 hours. Patients need to stay in the hospital for 2-3 days after surgery.
Can I Have Prosthesis Surgery on Both Hips in the Same Surgery?
Yes, Hip Prosthesis surgery can be performed on both hips in the same session, especially in patients under 80 years of age who do not have accompanying heart and lung disease.
What is the Lifespan of a Hip Prosthesis?
Today, the average lifespan of a Hip Prosthesis ranges between 20-30 years.
Is the surgery and recovery process very painful?
The pain experienced after total Hip Prosthesis has greatly decreased over the last 10-15 years with the increase in regional nerve blocks, spinal and epidural anesthesia applications, and various other methods used for pain control. Total Hip Prosthesis is generally considered a less painful surgery compared to total Knee Prosthesis.
What Restrictions Will There Be After Hip Prosthesis Surgery?
For approximately six weeks after surgery, it is important to avoid certain hip positions that could increase the risk of hip dislocation. These movements are; crossing one leg over the other and squatting. After six weeks, the soft tissues in the surgical area heal and restrictions are usually removed – more activities are permitted.
