Total Hip Replacement Or Hip Replacement Surgery: What Is It?

What is Total Hip Replacement surgery at Colorado Knee and Hip Preservation Center? First and foremost, hip replacement surgery is NO longer limited to the elderly. Hip replacement via Hip Preservation Specialist has become one of the most popular surgical procedures in the world. More than 330,000 patients undergo Total Hip Replacement each year. 

Return to Daily Mobility with Hip Replacement

It is now believed that the patient’s age is less important than the level of health and activity in general. Hip Doctors suggest undergoing surgery before the damage is severe has a better outcome. 

The most common is osteoarthritis. And can lead to bone-to-bone contact. Osteoarthritis patients may begin to notice pain or tenderness when walking, loss of flexibility, and stiffness, especially in the morning.

What is Total hip replacement?

Your hip joint is like a ball and socket. The two bones are separated by cartilage that acts as a cushion and allows movement. Located at the top end of the thigh bone (femur), where the bony hip (pelvis) joins is the femur’s head. This rounded bone fits into a socket in your pelvis, allowing you to twist, pivot, dance, or swing with a golf club.

In a hip replacement, diseased bone and cartilage are removed, and the head of the femur and socket (called the acetabulum) are replaced with artificial pieces. 

Total Hip Replacement Surgery- Reasons for Surgery

Total hip replacement surgery reasons are severe pain, loss of mobility, or deformity of the hip. Symptoms can be due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, or hip dysplasia, among others.

Osteoarthritis, commonly called “wear and tear,” is the most common cause of total hip replacement. In surgery, the damaged part of your hip will be removed and replaced with artificial components called prostheses. Our Hip Doctor will choose the best feature for your case.

Preparing For Surgery: What to bring to the Hip Preservation Center 

  • Bring comfortable shoes, hopefully not to tie, to avoid having to bend over to connect them.
  • Bring your walker or crutches as directed by the doctor.
  • Bring pajamas and comfortable clothing, for example, a sweatshirt.
  • Bring the antibacterial soap for the body bath in the Hospital.
  • Bring a list of the medications you take.
  • Bring the anti-embolic stockings, the triangle, and the antibacterial soap.

The Day Before Surgery:

  • Don’t eat anything after midnight. Your stomach must be empty before you receive anesthesia.
  • Take a bath the morning before surgery and use antibacterial soap from 2 days before surgery. This decreases the number of bacteria on the skin and can help reduce the risk of infection.

The Day Of Surgery:

  • Arrive on time at the indicated time.
  • Do not wear makeup or jewelry.
  • Bring the anti-embolic stockings with you.

After Surgery:

  • You will be transferred to the recovery room, and your family members will be notified. You will remain under observation until the medical staff decides that it is safe to go to the room.
  • In some cases, a catheter will be placed in your bladder to drain urine for the first 24 hours after surgery.
  • It is normal to feel some pain after surgery, and you will be given pain control medications.
  • Respiratory therapy will be performed.
  • You will need to use an abductor to help keep your legs apart, which is the safest position for your surgery. 
  • To sleep, you must be placed on your back for 30 days after your surgery.

Physical Therapy:

  • The day after surgery, you will have a physiotherapy session.
  • Bring your walker or crutches to the Clinic as indicated by the doctor. These will be very useful in the physical therapy process. 
  • The physiotherapy service will give you a sheet with exercise recommendations and safety instructions.

Opt for Total Hip Replacement Surgery at Colorado Knee and Hip Preservation Center

Our medical team, Hip Doctor, and Hip Preservation Specialist at the Preservation Center evaluate and explain the right option for you. It is essential to have realistic expectations. Although most patients experience decreased pain and increased mobility, they shouldn’t maintain or re-enter high-impact sports such as running or hockey.

The hip replacement does allow most participating patients pain-free walking, swimming, golfing, hiking, biking, or dancing. 

Discuss the details with our Hip Doctor before your surgery.  Our Hip doctor will tell you what movement and function you should be able to perform as you heal and recover from surgery.