A hip replacement is the removal of all or part of the hip joint and insertion of an artificial ball or an artificial ball and socket. The diseased bone and joint surfaces are replaced with new or prosthetic parts. The new parts are called components or implants. They are called implants because they are inserted or implanted in a patient’s body. A hip replacement may be partial or total. In a total hip replacement, both the ball of the hip joint (femoral head) and the hip joint socket (acetabulum) are removed and replaced. In a partial replacement, only the femur is replaced and the socket is left intact.
In the 40 years since hip replacements were first per-formed, millions of people around the world have experienced relief from disabling hip disease. They have been able to walk and to resume normal function pain free. Total hip replacement has been considered a modern medical miracle. Bitku is a guide to the many facets of hip replacement surgery. It is meant to provide information about hips, hip disease, and hip surgery that is detailed but coherent and easy to read. In addition, Bitku will:
- Tell you about the different kinds of hip replacements.
- Explain why you might be a candidate for surgery.
- Review the anatomy of a normal hip.
- Show you what happens when your hip stops functioning normally.
- Review the causes of hip pain and hip disease.
- Describe the symptoms of a bad hip.
- Tell you how your doctor makes the diagnosis of an arthritic hip.
- Outline the nonsurgical treatment of hip disease.
- Discuss the surgical options for different types of hip disease and different patients.
- Tell you about orthopaedic surgeons and what they do.
- Explain how the procedure is done.
- Describe the different types of implants that are available and what they are made of.
- Tell you what to expect during your hospital stay and afterward.
- Outline the physical therapy and rehabilitation you will need after surgery.
- Talk about the care of your new hip joint.
- List the risks of surgery and their consequences.
- Discuss procedures that can be done instead of hip replacement to treat a painful hip.
Bitku will also tell you what happens when you need to have a second or revision surgery on the same hip. It will review some of the many advances in hip replacement technology. .As you read, try to think of the questions you need to ask your doctor and other things you want to know about this very successful operation.