Hip Procedures
Painful hips can keep you from enjoying the things you love. Even everyday activities such as walking and climbing stairs may be painful.
The cause of the joint pain may be osteoarthritis, also known as Degenerative Joint Disease, the most common form of arthritis. It has been linked to many factors including genetics, environment, excessive body weight, trauma and overuse. As movement becomes painful and limited, performing simple daily tasks becomes difficult or impossible.
Hip Joint
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, with the head of the femur forming the ball, or rather a half-sphere. The socket, better known as the acetabulum, is a cuplike formation on the side of the pelvis. Both the head of the femur and the acetabulum are covered with a thick, rubbery articular cartilage that provides shock absorption for high impact weight bearing and smooth frictionless motion. Surrounding the hip joint is the capsule, which receives its primary stability from three strong ligaments surrounding the joint. Injury or disease to the hip joint can lead to the onset of arthritis and joint breakdown.
Total Hip Replacement
A total hip replacement is when your orthopedic surgeon re-surfaces the arthritic bone and replaces the ends of the femur (thigh bone) and your acetabulum (part of the pelvis) with prosthetic (artificial) components. This replacement procedure allows for significant reduction of pain and restoration of movement and function.
Mather’s orthopedic surgeons perform both posterior and anterior hip procedures.
Read about patients who had total hip replacement surgery at Mather Hospital.
Are You Eligible for Joint Replacement Surgery?
Each patient is unique, as are the reasons they consider joint replacement surgery. In general, candidates for hip replacement surgery experience:
- Hip pain severe enough to restrict work and recreation, AND the routine activities of daily living.
- Hip pain that is not relieved by non-operative treatment, such as reduced activity, medication or physical therapy.
- Advanced arthritis or other degenerative conditions.
As with any type of surgery, medical clearance by your physician is required.