Know your Hip Joint :

Hip joint is a ball and socket type of joint. The socket is in the form  of cup called Acetabulam. The ball is globular in shape called Femoral head. The both,  Acetabulam and Femoral head have special type of coverings called  as Cartilage. The ball i.e. Femoral head with cup i.e. Acetabulum forms a joint which allow as various movements at hip and permits weight  bearing.

What  is Arthritis  of the Hip ?

Various disease conditions can cause damage to either femoral head or acetabulum or both or there covering cartilage. Damage to any of these causes roughning of the joint surfaces which results in friction and pain during  walking or standing is called as arthritis.

Common conditions resulting in arthritis of hip are Avascular Necrosis of femoral head, Rheumatoid arhritis, Ankylosing spondyitis, fracture of the femoral neck ect.

When Total Hip Replacement is required ?

If the articulating surface of hip joint are arthritic and patient has inability to perform daily routine due to pain, is the time to do Total Hip Replacement Surgery.

With advances in surgical technique and easy availability of international standard quality implant, result of THR Surgery is predictable and long lasting.

What is done in THR?

• Damage, diseased femoral head [ball] is removed.
• Damaged articular cartilage of acetabulum is removed to expose underlying bone.
• up fitted in aceabulum in perfect position.
• Femoral head is replaced with artificial ball and fitted in femur.

Choice of articular surface of total hip prosthesis

Importance of larger size of Femoral head

Large size head gives better movement and decreases chances of hip dislocation.

Post operative protocol

• Cemented total hip replacement
  • Day 1: exercises in bed
  • Day 2/3: walking full weight bearing hip, knee, ankle exercises
• Uncemented total hip replacement
  • Non Wt. bearing walking        for 3 weeks
  • PWB walking                          next 3 weeks
  • FWB                                       6 weeks after surgery

Which movements can be done / to be avoided

• Can be done : walking, stair climbing/going down to staircase, driving, bicycle riding, dancing
• Avoid : jumping/jogging, sitting cross legged, squatting

With special type of implant  like ASR or Large Ball Arthroplasty  even jumping, jogging and squatting is permitted.

General information about thr surgery

• It is a planned surgery usually done under spinal and epidural anaesthesia.
• It takes approximately 1 ½ - 2 hours.
• Usually blood is not required unless patient’s haemoglobin is low to begin with.
• If epidural anaeshthesia is given, post surgical pain is negligible.
• Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease are not contraindications for THR.