Hip Replacement Specialist

What is a hip replacement?

Hip replacement, also known as total hip arthroplasty, is a type of orthopedic surgery that involves your NASA Bone & Joint Specialists provider removing damaged or diseased sections of your hip joint and replacing them with artificial prosthetics made of metal, plastic, or ceramic.

Ultimately, replacing your hip joint with a prosthesis eases pain and swelling, while improving mobility and your overall quality of life.

Why would I need a hip replacement?

There are many reasons you might need a hip replacement, but the most common is osteoarthritis. Other conditions that may require hip replacement include rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that can erode your cartilage, and osteonecrosis, which prevents adequate blood flow from reaching your hip. Left unmanaged, osteonecrosis can cause the bones in your hip joint to collapse and deform.
You might also want to consider hip replacement if you experience hip pain that:

• Persists, despite treatment
  
• Worsens with walking
  
• Interferes with your sleep
  
• Prevents you from walking up or down stairs
  
  

If you experience hip pain when you’re sitting or resting, you might also benefit from a hip replacement.

How do I prepare for a hip replacement?

Before surgery, you meet with the team at NASA Bone & Joint Specialists. Your surgeon reviews your medical history, conducts an exam, and orders a series of blood tests. During your preoperative evaluation, don’t hesitate to speak up or ask questions. You should also use this opportunity to tell your surgeon about any prescription medications, vitamins, or supplements you’re taking that might interfere with anesthesia.

What happens during a hip replacement?

On the day of your hip replacement, you’re placed under general anesthesia, meaning you fall asleep. To perform your hip replacement, your NASA Bone & Joint Specialists provider makes an incision in the front of your hip and carefully removes any portions of diseased or damaged bone and cartilage. Your surgeon leaves any healthy parts intact and implants a prosthetic socket into your pelvic bone.

After replacing your damaged socket, your surgeon replaces the ball on the top of your femur with a prosthetic ball and attaches it to a stem that fits comfortably into your thigh bone. Following surgery, your surgeon might also recommend treatment with orthobiologics such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy or stem cells to speed up your body’s natural healing processes.

To learn more about the benefits of a hip replacement, make an appointment with the team at NASA Bone & Joint Specialists today. Simply call the office or click the online booking tool to begin.