Hip Replacement with Hip & Knee Orthopaedics

Hip Replacement Surgery is one of the most successful surgeries to date, and markedly improves your pain and mobility if you are suffering from severe hip arthritis. Ability to walk better and pain-free would not only improve your quality of life, but have direct effects on your physical health by improving your bone density, muscle mass and cardiovascular health. Mental health is often improved as well with the new-found freedom from hip pain.

You will be given full anaesthesia (either general or spinal). An incision will be made over the damaged hip joint, a muscle sparing approach will be utilised to deliver the damaged hip joint. Once the damaged cartilage is removed to healthy bone, a socket implant with a special bone-like coating will be inserted. A bio-insert metal stem will be inserted into the femur.

Next the desired bearing combination will be implanted. Stability of the hip replacement will be checked and the capsular layered repaired before watertight skin closure is performed. Thereafter waterproof dressing is applied. Post op Xrays will be done. Most of the time, you should be able to start walking with either a walking frame or quad-stick immediately after the surgery.

After the surgery, you will be asked to come back to clinic to have your dressings changed every 4-5 days, till dressings are allowed to come off at two weeks post-surgery. Twice weekly physiotherapy is recommended for a start and this can help reactivate the muscles and reduce
the swelling.

Certain hip positions and getting up from the floor should be avoided for the first 4 to 6 weeks. Driving is generally allowed after 6 weeks. Thereafter hip restrictions will be lifted.

Full recovery from surgery generally takes between 3 to 6 months after surgery.