A hip replacement involves removing damaged sections of the hip joint and replacing them with metal, ceramic, or very hard plastic components. It reduces pain and improves function by replacing a joint with an artificial one (prosthesis).

Replacement surgery for the hip, also known as total hip arthroplasty, may be an option if hip pain interferes with daily activities and nonsurgical treatments have not worked. In most cases, hip replacements are required because of arthritis damage.

A doctor may recommend hip replacement surgery for various reasons, often it is necessary due to conditions impacting the hip joint. Many types of arthritis have this effect.

The slick cartilage that covers the ends of bones and helps joints move smoothly is damaged in osteoarthritis, also known as wear-and-tear arthritis. As a result of an overactive immune system, rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation that erodes cartilage and sometimes bone, resulting in damaged and deformed joints. A dislocation or fracture of the hip joint may cause osteonecrosis, where the ball portion of the bone collapses and deforms.

Several factors affect your doctor’s choice of surgical approach, including how the surgeon will gain access to your hip, the type and style of implant and how it will be attached, your age and level of activity, and the shape and health of your hip bones. Considering the possibility of future surgery plays a part in the decision since some surgical approaches and implant attachment types can make revision surgery easier or more challenging.

If your orthopedic surgeon determines that surgery is necessary, they will explain whether minimally-invasive surgery is ideal or if traditional hip replacement is better. They will also explain what type of implant they will use and how the procedure will be performed.

While your anesthesia wears off, you’ll be moved to the recovery area for a few hours. Blood pressure, pulse, alertness, pain level, and medication needs will be monitored by medical staff.

In order to keep fluid out of your lungs, you will be asked to breathe deeply, cough, or blow into a device. Depending on your individual needs, you may stay for a short time after surgery. It is possible for many people to go home on the same day of hip replacement surgery.

A hip replacement usually takes between six months and a year to fully heal, but recovery times vary from patient to patient. Immediately following surgery, you should expect one to four days of bed rest, but physical rehabilitation usually begins the same day. Unless complications arise, the process should progress slowly, with each week bringing less pain, better balance, and increased mobility.

It can take three months for a hip replacement to fully recover, but most people are successful three months after surgery. The first year following surgery is typically a period of improvement.

As a result of the new hip joint, hip pain can be reduced, and the hip range of motion can be increased. You can do as much as you can before the hip pain started but don’t expect to accomplish everything you could.

It may be too stressful on the artificial joint to perform high-impact activities, such as running or playing basketball. Most people will eventually be able to participate in lower-impact activities – such as swimming, golfing, and cycling.

In today’s medicine, total hip replacements are considered one of the most successful procedures. This surgery has an excellent success rate, with more than 95% of patients experiencing relief from hip pain. After ten years from surgery, hip replacements have a success rate of 90-95%, and after twenty years, 80-85%.

Hip replacement surgery is available at the Orthopedic Group. We serve patients from Leesburg VA, Lansdowne VA, Stone Springs VA, Dulles, VA, Ashburn VA, Sterling VA, Aldie VA, South Riding VA, Herndon VA, Winchester VA, Reston VA, Chantilly VA, and nearby areas!