Yea Or Nay: Hip Replacement Patients Agree: Easier Than It Sounds
By Neil P. Hines
Arthroplasty or hip replacement is the surgical procedure through which a diseased (that is, damaged or otherwise dysfunctional) hip joint is replaced with artificial parts in order to restore functionality or to relieve pain. Hemiarthroplasty is the analogous procedure to replace only one component of the hip joint (from the Greek word hemi meaning half). Despite untoward notions that candidates may have about the procedure, it is a routine operation and they should not suffer undue anxiety preceding its performance, so that hip replacement patients agree: easier than it sounds.
There are various reasons why medical practitioners decide to perform an arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty. Usually, they do so on the basis of osteoarthritis in the hip. Rheumatoid arthritis is also a possible reason, as is arthritis occasioned by mechanical injury or excessive strain. Another application of the technique is pain relief or reduction, where the joint is causing substantial and ongoing pain or does not function adequately any more.
There are more than one method of performing the surgery, differentiated primarily according to how the surgeon accesses the hip joint. So, there are the lateral (side-on), anterior (frontal) and posterior (from the rear) method. The last one, which is known as the minimally invasive technique, simply entails the attempt to effect the smallest possible incision. It is more difficult to perform than the others, so it may involve the use of supplementary imaging equipment.
The different variations are named after the direction of incision used to access the targeted hip. They are therefore self-explanatory: anterior (from the front), posterior (from the back) and lateral (from the side). The exception is the minimally invasive approach, which attempts to utilise the smallest possible incision, but the installation of the artificial parts is then harder to accomplish successfully, and the surgeon using this approach may require the assistance of more advanced equipment, such as computer imaging or intraoperative X-rays.
The prosthetic components are identical in dimension and function to the body's own versions. The three components involved in the operation are the femoral component, which takes the place of the femur's ball, the acetabular cup, which is inserted into the hip to serve as the socket (acetabulum), and the articular interface, which is the material between the other two parts.
These parts are manufactured in a variety of materials, including metal and synthetic alternatives. Patients should consider all options and discuss the most suitable one with their medical practitioner, so that they are more empowered in the treatment process.
Any operation in hospital elicits feelings of apprehension and unease. However, with an established track record of several decades and different prosthetic options, maybe patients may take heart, and they should therefore not anticipate their surgery with unnecessary pessimism or fear.
There are various reasons why medical practitioners decide to perform an arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty. Usually, they do so on the basis of osteoarthritis in the hip. Rheumatoid arthritis is also a possible reason, as is arthritis occasioned by mechanical injury or excessive strain. Another application of the technique is pain relief or reduction, where the joint is causing substantial and ongoing pain or does not function adequately any more.
There are more than one method of performing the surgery, differentiated primarily according to how the surgeon accesses the hip joint. So, there are the lateral (side-on), anterior (frontal) and posterior (from the rear) method. The last one, which is known as the minimally invasive technique, simply entails the attempt to effect the smallest possible incision. It is more difficult to perform than the others, so it may involve the use of supplementary imaging equipment.
The different variations are named after the direction of incision used to access the targeted hip. They are therefore self-explanatory: anterior (from the front), posterior (from the back) and lateral (from the side). The exception is the minimally invasive approach, which attempts to utilise the smallest possible incision, but the installation of the artificial parts is then harder to accomplish successfully, and the surgeon using this approach may require the assistance of more advanced equipment, such as computer imaging or intraoperative X-rays.
The prosthetic components are identical in dimension and function to the body's own versions. The three components involved in the operation are the femoral component, which takes the place of the femur's ball, the acetabular cup, which is inserted into the hip to serve as the socket (acetabulum), and the articular interface, which is the material between the other two parts.
These parts are manufactured in a variety of materials, including metal and synthetic alternatives. Patients should consider all options and discuss the most suitable one with their medical practitioner, so that they are more empowered in the treatment process.
Any operation in hospital elicits feelings of apprehension and unease. However, with an established track record of several decades and different prosthetic options, maybe patients may take heart, and they should therefore not anticipate their surgery with unnecessary pessimism or fear.
About the Author:
Neil P. Hines is passionate about providing intelligent, unbiased and highly relevant medical information for people dealing with a wide range of pain conditions and related orthopedic needs, including back pain, knee pain, joint replacements, sports medicine, lumbar fusion and more. If you are interested in learning more about orthopedic hand specialist Philadelphia he recommends that you visit his friends at St. Mary Medical Center.