All about hip replacement surgery.

Hip replacement surgery (arthroplasty) involves replacing a worn out hip affected by osteoarthritis, or other degenerative diseases, with an artificial prosthesis.

Hip replacement is usually carried out on patients suffering from severe pain due to osteoarthritis. It is the best option to relieve pain, regain mobility, correct hip deformation and improve the patient’s quality of life.

In most cases, patients who undergo hip replacement surgery are older than 50 years, but it is increasingly common to find younger patients.

Orthopedic surgeons at the Diagonal clinic in Barcelona (Spain) will tell you if, in your case, a hip replacement surgery is necessary. We will also provide you with the cost of the hip replacement surgery.

In less advanced cases, it is possible to perform an arthroscopy (minimally invasive technique) that allows the cartilage cleaning and also delays the placement of a hip implant (also called hip prosthesis).

The partial hip replacement surgery only replaces the femoral head, leaving the pelvis intact. It is usually used in elderly people with low physical activity. It is a less aggressive intervention than the total hip replacement surgery. Its duration is shorter and it has a lower risk of bleeding. However, it has worse functionality to perform normal physical activity.

The total hip replacement surgery replaces both the head and neck of the femur, as well as the acetabulum. This type of hip implant is used in people who need good mobility in their hips because they are young and active. A partial hip implant could give too limited mobility. A total hip implant is also used if, apart from the fracture, the patient has significant osteoarthritis of the hip.

The resurfacing (surface prosthesis) replaces the head of the femur and the acetabulum, covering them with metal material (metal-metal surface prosthesis). This type of hip implant is usually placed in younger patients. By preserving bone, the patient’s recovery is greater, the risk of dislocation is less, and the material is more durable. Over time, the surface prosthesis facilitates other revision or change surgeries. Throughout his life, a young patient may need at least a couple of hip replacement surgeries, hence the importance of saving as much bone as possible. Resurfacing implants are indicated in patients who wish to continue performing intense physical activity, whether at work or in their leisure time, after implanting a hip implant.

Orthopedic surgeons at the Diagonal clinic in Barcelona (Spain) will advise you on the type of hip implant that best suits your case. We will also tell you the cost of a hip replacement surgery.

The material used to perform hip replacement surgery (arthroplasty) depends on many factors, including the characteristics of the patient and his age. Among the most used materials at the Diagonal clinic in Barcelona (Spain) are metal; stainless steel; cobalt, chrome and titanium alloys; polyethylene and ceramic.

These materials allow a very similar mobility to that of the damaged joint.

As in all surgical procedures, hip arthroplasty presents certain risks. However, many of them can be minimized by following the recommendations of the orthopedic surgeons at the Diagonal clinic in Barcelona (Spain).

The main risks of hip replacement surgery (arthroplasty) are bleeding and infection. To minimize the risk of infection, intravenous antibiotics are administered one hour before surgery and 24 hours after surgery. To avoid the risk of dislocation, it is advisable not to do postures such as crossing your legs or sitting in very low chairs. There is finally the risk of loosening of the hip implant. It can be caused by the natural wear of the implant, an overload, fractures or an infection. In these cases it will be necessary to replace the hip implant totally or partially.

Hip replacement surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures performed today by Orthopedic surgeons at the Diagonal clinic in Barcelona (Spain). Hip replacement surgery improves the life expectancy of the patient and relieves him of the symptoms caused by osteoarthritis of the hip.

The success rate in Spain as well as in the rest of European countries is very high. Hip implant infection occurs in only 1% or 2% of cases.

Preparation for hip replacement surgery

Once the date of the hip replacement surgery has been specified, the patient must go to the Diagonal clinic facilities in Barcelona (Spain) to carry out a series of preoperative examinations. You will have blood tests, telemetry, and a profile and axial hip x-ray.

How long does hip replacement surgery last? Is it painful?

The patient will not notice any type of pain during the intervention. Total hip arthroplasty is performed under general or epidural anesthesia. The duration of hip replacement surgery is usually between 1 and 3 hours, being in most cases around an hour and a half.

The immediate postoperative

The recovery period depends on each patient. You are usually encouraged to start walking soon after the intervention. The team of physical therapists will instruct the patient in the rehabilitation and use of crutches. The Diagonal clinic in Barcelona (Spain) schedules a couple of daily rehabilitation sessions throughout the patient’s stay in the clinic. The admission to the clinic is usually 6 days. When discharged, the patient usually leaves the clinic on his own foot, only with the help of crutches.

Orthopedic surgeons at the Diagonal clinic in Barcelona (Spain) advise following these guidelines to extend the life of your hip prosthesis:

– Quit smoking: Tobacco is even more harmful in the case of people with hip prostheses. It increases the risk of the prosthesis becoming infected or loose.

– Maintain an adequate weight: Being overweight shortens the life of the hip prosthesis. Its parts wear out sooner.

– Do moderate physical exercise: It is important to maintain a certain level of physical activity since a toned musculature will make the hip prosthesis work better. However impact sports can quickly deteriorate or displace your hip prosthesis.

– Carry out periodic reviews: the reviews allow future complications to be detected in time.

– Monitor infections: A hip prosthesis has a high risk of being invaded by bacteria. To avoid infections, it is necessary to heal wounds well, maintain good body hygiene, especially teeth and hands hygiene.

– Avoid falls: An impact on the hip prosthesis can dislodge some of its parts. It can also break the bone in which it is implanted, or break some of its components.

People who want to play sports after the intervention, must take into account several aspects. Contact sports can quickly deteriorate or displace the hip prosthesis. Non-recommended impact sports include: jogging and soccer (although it is adapted for veterans).

However, each patient is unique and there are numerous documented cases of patients who were able to practice sports with caution between 6 and 9 months after the intervention. Still, risks are present. The fact that the person has previously practiced sport reduces the probability of injury. There is a long list of sports that are not incompatible with a hip prosthesis: steps, walking, cycling, dancing, skiing, Pilates, among others.

In conclusion, everything depends on the age, the physical shape of the patient and type of prosthesis used.

The Diagonal clinic in Barcelona (Spain) has specialists in sports medicine. Many athletes attend to our facilities for clinic’s consultations or to undergo different surgeries. If your passion is playing sports you can be sure that our experts will know how to give you the necessary guidelines so that you can continue practicing your sport with caution.