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Joint Center FAQs
What is hip replacement?
It is a metal and plastic covering for
raw, arthritic bone ends. It replaces cartilage that has worn
away over the years. Hip replacement can eliminate pain and
allow you to move easily with less discomfort.
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Who should have a hip replacement?
When arthritis hip pain severely limits
your ability to walk, work, or perform even simple activities,
hip replacement may be considered.
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Is there an alternative to hip replacement?
Hip replacement is only recommended
after careful diagnosis of your joint problem. It is not
likely that anti-inflammatory drugs or cortisone injections
will give you the same long-term relief that hip replacement
will.
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Should my hip replacement be cemented?
Hip replacements are successfully performed
with all cemented components as well as with a combination
of uncemented and cemented components. Your surgeon will discuss
which technique is best for you.
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How long is the hospital stay?
The average hospital stay for a hip replacement
patient is around 3-5 days. In some cases, fixing one hip
reduces the stress on the other hip, thus giving another two
or three years if the arthritis is not too advanced. Each
individual case is different.
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How long is recuperation?
Recovery varies with each person. You
will use a walker for approximately 4 weeks after the operation.
You can drive a car in 2-4 weeks. Most people gradually increase
their activities and may play golf, doubles tennis, shuffleboard,
or bowl in 12 weeks. More active sports, such as singles tennis
and jogging are not recommended.
After discharge, there is usually no need for a nursing home.
Some patients who live alone may require a short stay at a
rehab center for a few days after they leave the hospital.
This will depend on how you progress in the hospital, and
keep in mind that healing and recovery times vary with each
person.
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Will I need a blood transfusion?
The need for blood transfusions after
hip replacement surgery depends greatly on very individualized
factors. The majority of hip replacement patients do not require
a transfusion after surgery. Some patients may want to donate
their own blood prior to surgery for use after surgery. Your
surgeon will be happy to discuss these issues with you.
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What is the success rate?
Hip replacement surgery is recognized
as a miracle of modern surgery. Most orthopedic experts consider
hip replacement to be the best method of handling arthritis
in the hip. Hip replacements have literally put hundreds of
thousands of Americans back on their feet and allowed them
to enjoy their golden years.
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Are there complications?
As with any surgery, there is a risk
of complications after hip replacement surgery. However,
they
are quite rare driving on an Interstate highway is probably
more dangerous. To reduce the risk of infection, we take
special
precautionary measures in the operating room, and use powerful
antibiotics. Our personnel are limited to fully-trained
and
experienced nurses and technicians.
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What about pain?
Thanks to advances in medication technology,
we are able to keep you very comfortable after surgery. After
surgery, any temporary discomfort does not compare to the
pain of arthritis endured by most people in months and years
before surgery.
And because hip replacement patients are not sick, you will
not be treated as such. You will wear casual clothing after
surgery, not hospital gowns. You’ll also join other
joint replacement patients for buffet lunches, television,
cards and games.
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