Total Hip Replacement (THR) involves replacing the damaged and worn hip with an artificial joint (prosthesis). Hip replacements can be made using a combination of metal, ceramic, plastic, and acrylic cement. The type of hip replacement used is chosen taking into account your particular requirements.
For patients with hip arthritis, joint replacement is an effective and reliable method of providing pain relief. Hip replacements are very durable, lasting longer than 10-15 years in 80-90% of patients.
Hip replacement may be performed using general anaesthetic (put to sleep), regional anaesthetic (epidural or spinal nerve blocks), or a combination of these techniques. Your anaesthetist will make recommendations about which technique best suits you.
You can place your whole body weight onto the hip and walk with assistance immediately after surgery. Hospital stay is usually 3-5 days. Crutches are required for 1-2 weeks, and can be discarded when you are confident. Some people like to use a single crutch for a few weeks longer. Depending on your occupation, you will require 6 weeks off work. You are unable to drive for 6 weeks. Some patients will require a daily injection of blood thinners for a duration of 6 weeks after the procedure.
Hip replacement surgery is very safe, and serious complications are uncommon. Serious wound infection occurs in approximately 1%, and dislocation in approximately 2% of patients treated with hip replacement. Clots can form in the veins of the leg (deep venous thrombosis 'DVT'), which may occasionally dislodge and travel to the lungs. Many patients with hip arthritis have a short leg on the effected side, which is corrected during surgery. Occasionally it is not possible to make the leg lengths equal (within 10mm), and the operated leg is made longer or shorter. I will discuss the risks of the procedure with you in detail prior to the operation.
This information handout has been written by Dr
