Why Total Hip Replacement?
The hip joint is one of the largest joints in the body. It is a ball and socket joint and can be damaged by arthritis, accidents or other conditions. This can cause pain, stiffness, impaired movement and swelling. With continuous wear and tear, the damaged joint can seriously impair mobility, causing unbearable pain while walking. At this stage, a hip replacement surgery becomes necessary.
What happens during a Total Hip Replacement?
A Total Hip Replacement is performed by an orthopaedic surgeon. The surgeon removes the painful hip joint and replaces it with an artificial implant. The hip implant can be made of metal, plastic, ceramic or a mix of such materials. There are numerous implants of varying quality, functioning and longevity. The choice of implant lies with the patient and the treating surgeon.
What happens after a Total Hip Replacement?
After Total Hip Replacement, the patient is monitored closely for a few days. The patient may be confined to the bed and catheterized to reduce motion and help the new joint settle. The patient may be prohibited from twisting the leg for up to a year after hip replacement surgery. Physical therapy may begin after a day or two, at the discretion of the orthopaedic surgeon.
Kamineni Hospitals provides multiple weeks of physical therapy to improve movement and strengthen muscles for patients recovering from Total Hip Replacement. Patients undergo personalized physical therapy under the guidance of skilled physiotherapists. Following successful physical rehabilitation, a patient can expect relief from pain and slowly regain ease at walking.