What Is A Hip Replacement?

Questions and Answers about Hip Replacement

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Hip replacement, referred to as arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which the diseased parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with new but artificial parts. These artificial parts are called the prosthesis. Obviously the goals of hip replacement surgery include increasing mobility, improving the function of the hip joint, and of course, relieving pain.

Who Should Have Hip Replacement Surgery?

People with hip joint damage that causes pain and interferes with daily activities despite treatment may be candidates for hip replacement surgery. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of this type of damage. However, other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis which is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, osteonecrosis known as avascular necrosis, which is the death of bone caused by insufficient blood supply. Injury and bone tumors could lead to breakdown of the hip joint and the need for hip replacement surgery.

In the past, doctors reserved hip replacement surgery primarily for people over 60 years of age. The thinking was that older people typically are less active and put less stress on the artificial hip than do younger people.

In more recent years, however, doctors have found that hip replacement surgery can be extremely successful in younger people as well because new technology has improved the artificial parts which can now withstand more stress and strain and last a lot longer.

Today, a person's overall health and activity level are more important than age in predicting a hip replacement's success. Hip replacement may be problematic for people with some health problems, regardless of their age.

For example, people who have chronic disorders such as Parkinson's disease, or conditions that result in severe muscle weakness, are more likely than people without chronic diseases to damage or dislocate an artificial hip.

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The content on this site is providedfor information purposes and is in no way intended to replace the knowledge or diagnosis of your doctor. Our intention is to focus on overall health issues or strategies. For specific guidance regarding personal health questions, we advise consultation with a qualified health care professional familiar with your particular circumstances. We advise seeing a physician whenever a health problem arises requiring an expert's care.r particular circumstances. We advise seeing a physician whenever a health problem arises requiring an expert's care.