When you have chronic hip pain, a task as simple as tying your shoes can become unbelievably difficult. With the help of the leading orthopaedic surgeons at Texas Orthopaedic Associates, you can restore and replace your damaged hip joint in an effort to improve your quality of life. With locations in Dallas, Plano, Weatherford, Keller, and Fort Worth, Texas, you have a convenient office nearby. Book your hip replacement evaluation by clicking the online scheduler or by calling any office directly.
HIP REPLACEMENT Q&A
Why do I need a hip replacement?
Your hip joint is a ball-and-socket type of joint made up of the head of your femur (thigh bone) and the acetabulum socket. Between years of wear and tear and any acute injuries that can occur in the weight-bearing joint, you may eventually need to have it replaced. Your orthopaedic surgeon might determine that you’re a candidate for a hip replacement surgery (hip arthroplasty) if you have:
- Dislocation
- Complex fracture
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Severe hip stiffness
- Inherited hip disease
Usually, though, the hip replacement procedure is the last resort after exhausting conservative therapy efforts like medication and physical therapy.
What happens during a hip replacement?
The team of innovative orthopaedic surgeons at Texas Orthopaedic Associates, utilizes the most advanced methods and techniques for performing hip replacement procedures. During surgery, which is performed under general anesthesia, your orthopaedic surgeon:
- Removes the damaged head of your femur bone
- Places a metal stem into the hollow part of your femur
- Covers the stem with a metal or ceramic ball
- Removes damaged cartilage from the hip socket
- Inserts a specialized spacer to create a gliding surface
Hip replacement procedures can be partial or total. A partial hip replacement involves replacing just the damaged portion of your hip joint, while the total hip replacement restores your entire hip.
You may even qualify for a state-of-the-art custom hip replacement surgery. This procedure involves using high-definition 3D-imaging scans to measure your joint.
Your images are forwarded to Conformis, which is a company that creates personalized titanium hip replacement components in about 6-8 weeks. Your “new hip” is made for you and you only. Considered the “future of joint replacement,” these custom hip components can reduce surgery time and risk of infection.
How long is the recovery after a hip replacement?
Recovering from a hip replacement procedure takes time, but you should be up and walking around with little to no pain in as little as a week. You’re probably still going to need an assistive device, such as a cane or walker, during this time.
The orthopaedic team at Texas Orthopaedic Associates, teaches you exercises you should be performing regularly to improve joint mobility and promote healing. Expect to go through roughly 2-4 physical therapy sessions weekly for at least 4-8 weeks. In most cases, you can return to all of your regular activities with no limitation by about 4-6 months.
Schedule your hip replacement consultation at Texas Orthopaedic Associates, today. Click on the online scheduler or call your nearest location to book.