In order to learn more about the details and information about the process of replacing the hip joint, we offer you this detailed article.

Pelvic joint replacement surgery

What is the hip joint?

There is more than one joint in the body that has important functions that help in movement and balance and gives support to the body to bear its weight. The joint consists of bones, muscles, and tendons that work to form a strong structure for the joints in order to maintain the pressure on them from the rest of the body and one of the joints that is strong in the human body is the hip joint.

The hip joint is a relatively large joint in the body that bears part of a person’s weight and gives him the ability to move, walk, exercise, and also a lot of other physical activities. The hip joint consists of the pelvic and thigh bones, and they are linked by articular cartilage and synovial membrane to facilitate movement.

Reasons for hip replacement surgery

A person can be exposed to injury in the pelvic joint for more than one reason, which can lead to an inability to move the joint and severe pain that the person suffers from. The early treatment definitely works to improve the condition of the patient better, and among the reasons that increase the chances of undergoing hip replacement surgery are:

The presence of inflammation in the joint such as osteoarthritis.
Erosion and atrophy of the cartilage lining the joint.
Exposure to bone necrosis, which exposes the bones to deformation.
Having rheumatoid arthritis.

What are the symptoms that must be made to change the pelvic joint after they appear?

After infection with certain types of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or degenerative arthritis, some symptoms appear that indicate severe damage to the cartilage, and the patient must undergo a joint replacement surgery so that the symptoms do not increase and the patient loses the ability to move.

Among the signs that a hip replacement surgery is resorted to are:

Severe pain that does not respond to analgesics.
The presence of intense pain and discomfort while lying down or sleeping.
Inability to change between sitting and standing positions.
Difficulty going up and down stairs.
Stop doing some daily activities that cause severe pain to the injured person.
Having difficulty and not being able to walk properly.

The exacerbation of symptoms can cause significant damage to the joint, and therefore it is necessary to refer to a specialist orthopedist to complete the necessary examinations and analyses before performing the hip replacement operation, which is considered necessary in the event of an increase in the severity of the previous symptoms.

Procedures before hip replacement surgery

Preparation before operating to replace the pelvic joint is necessary because it determines the extent of damage or erosion that occurred in the joint, whether the bones were affected after infection, and what type of artificial joint should be used by the doctor, as well as knowing the current health condition of the patient to take the necessary medical steps before surgery.

Some x-rays, examinations, and medical analyzes are performed before deciding to operate, as follows:

The doctor begins to know the patient’s medical history and the types of medications he takes.
A thorough examination of the pelvic joint should be performed to determine the extent to which the muscles are affected and their ability to move.
Using X-rays helps identify the damaged part of the cartilage and the erosion that occurred in it.
The patient shouldn’t perform any dental procedures in the preoperative period of about 14 days, so as not to cause infection in the bones.
Abstain from smoking completely, at least two weeks before the operation.
Take the medications prescribed by the doctor before the surgery, which are mostly anti-inflammatory to reduce the chances of infection in the body.
Avoid certain types of medications, and this is what the doctor determines with you, and mostly the drugs are for liquidity.

After seeing the injured person about the pre-operative procedures and conducting the necessary examinations and x-rays that determine in detail the condition of the joint and the bones in it, and whether there was a bump or deformity in it and other information that the doctor needs before determining the surgery, the attending physician sets the appropriate date for the surgery.

Pelvic joint replacement surgery

The process of replacing the pelvic joint for the elderly is one of the appropriate solutions that work to provide greater comfort for the injured person to regain his movement naturally and to be able to practice normal activities for him and to perform them better in cases of the elderly because changing the joint may slightly modify the daily regimen of the injured person and this is easier for the patient this age group.

The process of replacing the pelvic joint with an artificial one is one of the medical procedures that doctors resort to in case of severe damage to the joint and an increase in symptoms for the injured person, which may lead to the loss of the ability to move completely, and therefore the surgical solution is the most appropriate and safest for the injured person.

Hip replacement is done through the following steps:

The patient is prepared before the surgery and puts on the clothes intended for the operation.
The anesthesiologist performs anesthesia for the injured person, it can be partial or full, and this depends on the patient’s health condition.
The patient is given anesthesia to the nerves around the joint so that the pain after surgery is less.
An incision or wound is made in the layers of tissue in the hip, usually from the back, but sometimes the doctor prefers to make the incision from the front or the sides.
After making the incision, the surgeon cleans and removes the damaged parts of the cartilage in the pelvic joint without causing damage to the bones.
The pelvic cavity is prepared to fit the artificial joint to be replaced.
The round bone in the pelvic joint is replaced with an artificial one and fitted to its proper location in the femur.
The doctor makes sure that the artificial joint is stable and that its movement is expected after its installation.
The wound begins with sterilization and cleaning of the wound in order to be sutured and closed well, and medical bandages are placed.

After the operation, the patient returns to the recovery room in order to be monitored in the hours after surgery and to check blood pressure, heart rate, and other vital indicators. He usually stays about 3 to 7 days in the hospital, and then he can leave it.

Post-pelvic replacement surgery

The return of the patient’s ability to normal daily activity after the hip joint replacement operation may require some time, and the patient must maintain the instructions given to him by the medical staff after the surgery, the most important of which is rest and not causing severe stress to the joint so that complications do not occur.

During the period of being in the hospital, the attending physician will follow up on the health developments of the case and know the success rate of the surgery. In most cases, the patient does not leave the hospital until he can get up and go to bed on his own with the help of crutches or a walker, and he can eat and drink normally.

The injured person needs to follow up with the physiotherapist after the operation to start doing the necessary exercise after the doctor allows him to do so, and this often happens after the wound in the hip has healed and the patient can walk normally again.

In the first weeks after surgery, the patient must keep walking daily as much as possible, use cold water that reduces the severity of pain and swelling in the thigh after surgery and have regular medical follow-up appointments after discharge from the hospital important for the doctor to explain to you the instructions for the coming period during recovery.

What are the stages of recovery after pelvic joint surgery?

The period after the pelvic joint replacement operation (the recovery period) can vary from one patient to another. Still, most often the patient begins to feel better after three months of surgery, and full recovery can extend to a year after the surgery.

Healing begins gradually after the joint replacement operation, and it goes through several stages, starting from pain relief and wound healing to the ability to walk gradually until the ability to practice daily activities normally. Here are some steps that help speed up the recovery process :

Care must be taken to change the dressings and take care to keep the wound clean and sterile so that the healing is better without infection.
Adhere to the instructions given by the physiotherapist after the hip replacement surgery.
The injured person must adhere to the rest period specified by the doctor without causing stress to the joint.
Adhere to a diet rich in proteins and fibers that help the body recover its activity and contribute to the rapid improvement of the condition of the wound.
Lose weight if you’re obese because being overweight poses some risks to your hip prosthesis.
Keeping the leg raised above the level of the heart as much as possible to reduce swelling after surgery.
The use of crutches and supportive tools that help in leaning directly on the joint while walking.

Pain after hip replacement surgery

After changing the pelvic joint, the patient may feel post-operative pain, which is normal after the surgery, and improvement can begin within the first week after joint replacement, and analgesics help relieve the pain gradually.

Don't let pain hold you back.

Consult an orthopedic doctor today and regain your energy

Send us via WhatsApp Call Us

When does walking start after pelvic joint installation?

Of course, walking is considered one of the simple and important exercises that help improve the patient’s ability to move after replacing the hip joint. The patient can start walking during the day following the operation, and crutches or a walker must be used so that the full weight is not placed on the joint.

Risks of hip replacement surgery

Is hip replacement surgery dangerous? Sometimes there can be a risk for the patient after the operation to replace the pelvic joint with an artificial one. Complications of replacing the hip joint include the occurrence of clots in the heart or lung, so doctors advise taking blood thinners for a week after surgery to avoid risks.

What is the success rate of hip joint surgery?

The success rate of hip replacement surgery depends on medical procedures, proper diagnosis before surgery, choosing a surgeon who has skill in this type of surgery, and also the patient’s commitment to instructions after the operation, but mostly hip replacement is a safe process with a success rate of about 97% or more in some cases.

How long does a hip replacement surgery take?

The duration of the operation to replace the pelvic joint can take between 60 to 120 minutes or longer, depending on the patient’s health condition and the extent of the damage that occurred in the joint. During this period, the patient is usually under the influence of general anesthesia, then he returns after the surgery to his room and is under medical care inside the hospital.

Replacement of half of the hip joint

Joint replacement can be performed to treat inflammation and erosion that occurred in the cartilage and synovial fluid present in the joint, and thus the patient can walk and move normally again, and it is possible to change the entire joint or partially change it (half-joint replacement), and this is determined by the doctor after diagnosing the condition injured.

How long does an artificial joint live?

Artificial joints are designed to have a lifespan of between 15 to 20 years, and this is due to the patient’s interest in the instructions given to him by doctors to maintain the integrity of the artificial joint and not cause complications for him.