Common Questions
About Joint Replacement
Hip arthritis typically affects patients over 50 years of age. It is more common in people who are overweight, and weight loss tends to reduce the symptoms associated with hip arthritis. There is also a genetic predisposition of this condition, meaning hip arthritis tends to run in families. Other factors that can contribute to developing hip arthritis include traumatic injuries to the hip and fractures to the bone around the joint.
Hip arthritis symptoms tend to progress as the condition worsens. Often patients report good months and bad months or symptom changes with weather changes. This is important to understand because comparing the symptoms of hip arthritis on one particular day may not accurately represent the overall progression of the condition.
The most common symptoms of hip arthritis are:
- Pain with activities.
- Limited range of motion.
- Stiffness of the hip.
- Walking with a limp.
Treatment of hip arthritis should begin with the most basic steps, and may progress to surgery.
Weight Loss
Probably one of the most important, yet least commonly performed treatments. The less weight the joint has to carry, the less painful activities will be.
Activity Modification
Limiting certain activities may be necessary, and learning new exercise methods may be helpful.
Walking Aids
Use of a cane or a single crutch is the hand opposite the affected hip will help decrease the pressure on the arthritic joint.
Physical Therapy
Strengthening of the muscles around the hip joint may help decrease the burden on the hip. Preventing atrophy of the muscles is an important part of maintaining functional use of the hip.
Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Anti-inflammatory pain medications (NSAIDs) are prescription and nonprescription drugs that help treat pain and inflammation.
Joint Supplements (Glucosamine)
Glucosamine appears to be safe and might be effective for treatment of osteoarthritis, but research into these supplements has been limited.
Joint replacement surgery is recommended by doctors when there is severe hip pain and loss of function and there is no help from oral medication in relieving the pain. Prior to operation, doctor makes use of X-rays to look at bones and cartilage in Hip area for seeing if these are damaged and ensuring that the resultant pain is not because of any other reasons.
These are attached to existing bone with cement that acts as glue and attaches artificial joint to bones.
These are attached using porous coating designed to allow bone to adhere to artificial joint. Over a period of time, there is a growth of new bone that fills up openings in porous coating, thus attaching joints to bone.
For joint replacement surgeries, the doctor often uses regional anesthesia. But at times seeing the overall health of patients and their marked preferences, the operation can also be carried out under general anesthesia.
Patients who have undergone Hip Replacement are administered intravenous (IV) antibiotics and medicines for controlling blood clotting and pain for around a day after surgery. The initial few days requires taking medicines as prescribed by the doctor including pain killers that would decrease over the time. However, there may be the need to take anticoagulant medicines for several weeks after the surgery has been performed.
- The rehab process post hip replacement surgery starts next day after the surgery.
- Exercises are started under supervision of the team and accompanying physiotherapist.
- Pt is allowed to sit on side of the bed/chair on next day of surgery.
- Gait training is begun on second post op day or according to patients compliance.
- Initially partial wt bearing walking with help of walker is allowed and gradually shifted to crutch / cane support, continued for 6 weeks, after which full weight bearing is allowed.
People having undergone hip replacement surgery feel less pain than pre-surgery stage and are able to successfully resume daily activities. With the passing days, patients would probably be able to do handle daily activities more easily as joint start moving better.
The overall lifespan of the hip implant depends on factors as:
- Lifestyle of the patient (how much stress is put on a joint).
- The weight of the patient (overweight patients tend to put extra stress on joints).
- How well new joint and bones mend together.
Risks Involved at Surgery and Post Operative Recovery Stages:-
- Blood clots– DVT
- Infection in surgical wound/in the joint that may be treated with antibiotics or if found deep in joint, the removal may require more surgery including removal of artificial joint
- Nerve injury that may cause numbness or difficulty in moving a muscle
- Problems related to wound healing especially for patients having rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes
- Deposits of bone (Myositis ossificans) in soft tissues around hip joint that may decrease motion range of the hip
- Hip dislocation post surgery
- Difference in leg lengths which are usually very small and do not cause any pain or functional issues
- Risks carried through general anaesthesia procedure especially for people who have had recent heart attack as well as those having chronic lung, liver, kidney, or heart disorders
Long-Term Risks
- Loosening of artificial hip joint parts.
- Infection around the implant.
- Fracture of bone.
- Implant breakage.
- Bone loss.
- Loosening of prosthesis.
- Wearing away of joint tissues.
Further, X-ray studies also help in diagnosing fractures of hip/dislocated prostheses.