Over time, the cartilage that cushions the bones can wear away, cause pain
and discomfort, and make simple pleasures like walking and shopping unbearable.
Hip replacement can reduce or eliminate pain, allow easier movement, and
get you back to life. Total hip replacement is a surgical procedure where
the worn-out surfaces of the hip are replaced with man-made components.
Hip replacement surgery may be considered for those suffering from arthritic
hip pain that severely limits the activities of daily living. It is only
recommended after careful examination and diagnosis of your joint problem
and only after more conservative measures such as exercise, physical therapy,
and medications have proven ineffective.
There are many kinds and designs of hip implants available today and no
one design, or type is best for every patient or their situation. Each
surgeon selects the implant that they believe is best for their patient’s
needs based on a number of factors including age, activity level, the
implant’s track record, and his or her comfort with the instruments
associated with the particular implant. If you have specific questions
regarding implants, your surgeon will be happy to answer them for you.
Hip replacement is recognized as one of the most successful procedures
in all of medicine. In the United States, over 190,000 people have their
hips replaced each year, and over 90 percent of these surgeries are considered
successful.
