Preparing for a total hip replacement often begins several weeks prior to the actual surgery. Emphasis is placed upon the individual maintaining good physical health before the operation.
If you decide to have hip replacement surgery, you may be asked to have a complete physical examination by your primary care doctor before your surgical procedure. This is needed to assess your health and identify conditions that can interfere with your surgery or recovery.
Several tests may be needed to help plan your surgery: Blood and urine samples may be tested. Individuals with a history of recent or frequent urinary infections and older men with prostate disease should consider a urological evaluation before surgery. EKG - Provides information regarding the condition of the heart for surgery. Chest x-ray - Provides information about the respiratory status of the individual. Skin Infections Free-Your skin should not have any infections or irritations before surgery. If either is present, contact your orthopaedic surgeon for a program to improve your skin before surgery.
A blood transfusion is often necessary after hip surgery. One option is autotransfusion after surgery.You may be advised to donate your own blood prior to surgery. It will be stored in the event you need blood after surgery.
Consult your orthopaedic surgeon about the medications you are taking. Your orthopaedist will advise you which medications you should stop or can continue taking before surgery.An anesthesiologist explains what types and options of anesthesia are available for hip surgery
If you are overweight, your doctor may ask you to lose some weight before surgery to minimize the stress on your new hip and possibly decrease the risks of surgery
Infections after hip replacement are not common, an infection can occur if bacteria enter your bloodstream. Bacterial Infections can happen during dental procedures, you should consider getting treatment for dental disease before your hip replacement surgery. Routine cleaning of your teeth should be delayed for several weeks after surgery.
After the surgery you will be able to walk with crutches or a walker soon after surgery, you will need some help for several weeks with such tasks as cooking, shopping, bathing, and laundry. If you live alone you have to have some assistance at your home. A short stay in an care facility may help you.
The following is a list planning that has to be done at home before surgery so that it helps you in painless and quick recovery.
General anesthesia is most used for joint replacement surgeries but sometimes regional anesthesia is also used. This depends on your doctor, on your overall health and personal preference.
The damaged cartilage and bone is first removed. To remove the worn out ball of the ball-and-socket hip joint, the bone is cut to remove the femoral head. In order to insert a new joint, the damaged bone and cartilage must first be removed. Once the arthritic ball is removed, the worn out socket can be addressed. Unlike the ball, this bone cannot be cut off -- the socket of the hip joint is part of the pelvis bone.
A reamer is used to scrape away the damaged cartilage and bone and a smooth, perfectly rounded surface are got which accepts the new hip implant. Once the damaged bone has been removed, the new socket of the hip replacement can be inserted. The socket of the pelvis is called the acetabulum and the part of the hip replacement inserted into the socket is called the acetabular component. The acetabular component is held tightly in the pelvis by making the socket slightly smaller than the acetabular component and wedging the implant into the bone. The implant has a rough surface to allow bone to grow into the surface of the implant over time.
Now that the socket has been addressed, attention can turn to the ball of the ball-and-socket hip joint. The ball is supported with an implant inserted down the hollow center of the thigh bone (femur). This implant is called the femoral stem.
For the femoral stem to be held tightly in the bone special tools are used to shape the center of the thigh bone to accommodate the femoral stem. With the bone prepared, the femoral stem is inserted and held in the bone with or without cement.
If bone cement is used, the cement is inserted in a liquid form and the stem is then placed. The cement permanently hardens within a few minutes to hold the implant fixed within the bone. When no cement is used, the implant is called "press-fit." This means that the implant is wedged tightly into the bone. A rough surface covering the implant allows bone to grow into the implant over time.
With the stem inserted down the center of the thigh bone, the ball of the ball-and-socket hip joint can be inserted on top of the stem. A metal ball is tightly fit onto the top of the stem.
