Also known as a hip arthroplasty, total hip replacement (THR) is a relatively common surgical procedure which rebuilds a deteriorated hip joint. Hip replacements are most commonly needed due to extreme arthritis in the hip joint, a condition which is often the result of natural aging, severe trauma to the hip joint or a congenital deformity of the hip joint.

As the chronic pain progressively increases, patients find even the simplest daily tasks such as walking, standing up and climbing stairs to be near impossible. A total hip replacement is usually performed only after the pain has become so severe that it interferes with normal daily life.

Procedure information
In a total hip replacement, the diseased cartilage along with the deteriorated bone of the hip joint is replaced with artificial materials through a fairly complicated surgical procedure. The ball and socket of the hip is removed and replaced with a metal ball and a stem, which is then positioned inside the femur bone. A bone-like cement called methylmethacrylate is used to fix the prosthesis into the femur. This method is typically used on patients over the age of 60.

Younger patients may opt for the ‘cementless’ prosthesis, which has a longer life span. In this somewhat more difficult procedure, the prosthesis has microscopic pores which connect themselves naturally to the existing femur bone.

Recovery time
If there are no complications from the surgery, most patients will be able to leave hospital 4 to 10 days after the procedure. To ensure that the patient adjusts to their new life, a nurse or physical therapist is often assigned to provide in-home treatment until the patient has fully recovered.

A postoperative exercise program is essential to rehabilitate the hip joint and strengthen the surrounding muscles. Outpatient physical therapy comes in many forms, including the use of heat or ice to reduce swelling, electrical stimulation to help the nervous system and ultrasound waves to help increase circulation. Patients will need a walking frame or crutches for several weeks until they regain full mobility and strength in their hip.