Hip Replacement

The hip is one of the most commonly replaced joints. This ball-and-socket joint allows you to move your legs and bend and straighten your body. Osteoarthritis, a type of degenerative arthritis, is the main reason for hip replacement surgery. Other conditions, including trauma, may also cause the need for a hip replacement.

While the symptoms of hip arthritis are tolerable with medications and lifestyle adjustments, there may come a time when surgical treatment is necessary. Hip replacement surgery, also called hip arthroplasty, involves removing the damaged portion of the hip and replacing it with artificial implants called prosthetics. These devices are a replacement for the natural joint and allow pain-free movement.

Hip resurfacing is a procedure that is used to relieve pain and restore function for people with arthritis or other hip conditions. Unlike traditional total hip replacement, hip resurfacing does not remove the bones in the joint, but instead resurfaces the bone with smooth metal.

Hip resurfacing conserves bone and is a less-invasive procedure than total hip replacement. Younger active people are the best candidates for hip resurfacing. Overall, hip resurfacing is a successful procedure and allows the majority of people to return to the activities they enjoyed before experiencing hip pain.

Your surgeon will provide a list of items that are required prior to your surgery.  In general, you'll need to do the following before a hip replacement surgery:

• Set up a surgical date
• Discuss the risks & benefits of the surgery
• Make an appointment with your primary care physician, and any specialists that you are treating with, to obtain a medical clearance
• Before your surgery, you will visit our office to meet with the surgeon or the surgeon's physician assistant to plan for a smooth procedure and recovery.  Our surgical coordinator will set up this appointment for you.
• Schedule a pre-hab appointment with our physical therapy team.  Having strong muscles in the upper and lower legs are critical to support the hip joint.  We would like every patient, when possible, to meet with our physical therapy team 1-2 times prior to your procedure to show you exercises that can be done at home prior to surgery to help in your post-surgical recovery.
• Talk to your PCP and any other specialists about medications to stop taking prior to surgery
• Be sure to see your dentist well before the day of your joint replacement surgery (30 days prior is ideal)
• Planning for your return home after surgery will make your recovery easier and more comfortable.  Our surgical coordinator will give you a list of items and ideas to help you prepare your home.

While every patient’s experience with hip replacement surgery is different, most can expect to bear weight and walk with an aid within a few hours of surgery. The majority of our joint replacement procedures are performed outpatient and patients go home the same day.

Patients benefit from having an in-home physical therapist come out for 1-2 weeks post-surgically before transitioning to an outpatient physical therapy program.  Our surgical coordinator will set up in-home physical therapy for you.

You will have post-operative appointments scheduled with our office regularly for the first year.  At these visits, we will take x-rays and discuss your comfort level, function and mobility, and how your new hip is working for you.  Our goal is to make sure that you're healing well and progressing toward your recovery goals.

Outpatient hip replacement surgery, also called "same day hip replacement," "rapid recovery hip replacement," and "ambulatory hip replacement," is a hip replacement surgery that enables qualified patients to return home the same day of the surgery.

The benefits of outpatient hip replacement surgery include:

• Lower risk of infection
• A more comfortable recovery at home
• Quicker return to normal activities

LKO joint replacement surgeons perform a thorough evaluation of each patient's health and circumstances to determine if they are a candidate for outpatient joint replacement surgery.  If you are curious whether you are a candidate for outpatient hip replacement surgery, schedule your appointment with Dr. Mark Kwartowitz or Dr. Collin O'Keefe today.