- What is a hip replacement?
Hip replacement involves the removal of arthritic bone ends and damaged cartilage and replaces them with prosthetic implants that replicate the hip joint. Hip replacement can help relieve pain and get you back to enjoying normal, everyday activities.
- What are the reasons for total hip replacement?
Total hip replacement is often reserved for patients who have a painful, disabling joint disease of the hip resulting from a severe form of arthritis.
- How is a total hip replacement performed?
In a total hip replacement operation, the surgeon replaces the worn surfaces of the hip joint with an artificial hip joint. The worn head of the femur (thighbone) is replaced with a ceramic ball mounted on a stem; the stem is placed firmly into the canal of the thighbone at its upper end. The acetabulum (hip socket) is prepared and implanted with a metal cup and plastic insert. The ceramic ball and plastic insert glide together to replicate the hip joint. Dr. Stewart transitioned to using the direct anterior approach in December of 2013. He performs the vast majority of his primary total hip replacements using the direct anterior approach.
- How do I know if I am a candidate to have my hip replacement performed through the direct anterior approach?
Dr. Stewart performs greater than 99% of his primary total hip replacements through the direct anterior approach. There are very few instances when the direct anterior approach cannot be performed.
- Who should have a hip replacement?
Hip replacement surgery may be considered when arthritis limits your everyday activities such as walking and bending, when pain continues while resting, or stiffness in your hip limits your ability to move or lift your leg. Hip replacement may be recommended only after careful diagnosis of your joint problem. It may be time to consider surgery if you have little pain relief from anti-inflammatory medications and intra-articular cortisone injections or if other treatments, such as physical therapy, do not relieve hip pain.
- How long is the hospital stay?
After hip replacement surgery, the majority of our patients are discharged on postoperative day one. Our patients typically ambulate with a walker within a few hours of their surgical procedure. The vast majority of our patients are able to bear weight as tolerated on the surgical leg. In rare instances, Dr. Stewart has patients limit the amount of weight they are able to bear on their surgical side depending on the quality of the bone. This will be addressed with you postoperatively if he identifies that you have poor bone quality during the surgery. We also recently began the fast track recovery program at Oakleaf Surgical Hospital where select patients have the option of being discharged home the day of their surgery if they feel up to it.
- How long is recuperation?
Recovery varies for each individual patient. It is essential that you follow your orthopedic surgeon’s instructions regarding home care during the first few weeks after surgery; especially concerning the exercise program you are prescribed. You should be able to resume most normal light activities of daily living within three to six weeks following surgery. Some discomfort during activity and at night is common for several weeks. Complete recovery can take from about three to six months.
While most people will gradually increase their activities and return to doing things like playing golf, doubles tennis, shuffleboard, or bowling, you will be advised to avoid more active sports, such as jogging, singles tennis, and other high-impact activities.
- Could there be complications?
As with any surgery, there is a risk of complications after hip replacement surgery. However, they are relatively rare. Blood clots are the most common complication after surgery. You will be started on Xarelto postoperatively to help prevent the development of a blood clot. You will also be asked to wear TED stockings, which are compression type stockings, for the first three weeks postoperatively to reduce the risk of developing a blood clot.
- What is the success rate?
Hip replacement is one of the most important surgical advances of this century. This surgery helps more than 300,000 Americans each year to relieve their pain, and get back to enjoying normal, everyday activities.
- How long does a hip replacement last?
Dr. Stewart has been using the Stryker Accolade II stem and the trititanium acetabular cup and/or the PSL acetabular cup for several years now depending on the size of implant needed. These implants have been used for the past decade and have a 10-year success rate of 97%.
- When can I discontinue dressing changes?
Generally, dressings should be worn for the first few days following the surgery. However, if there is no longer any drainage from the incision, dressing changes may be discontinued.
- How long should I wear the TED stockings after undergoing total hip arthroplasty?
We recommend that you wear your TED stockings for the first three weeks following your surgery to reduce the risk of developing a blood clot.
- How long will I be on a blood thinner postoperatively?
All of our patients who undergo joint replacement are placed on a blood thinner for the first three weeks postoperatively. Depending on your personal and family history and recovery process, you may be stopped as early as two weeks postoperatively.
- Since the BIRMINGHAM HIP* Resurfacing implant is new in the United States, is it clinically proven?
While the BIRMINGHAM HIP* Resurfacing implant is new to the United States, it is not a new implant or technique. It has been in use worldwide since 1997, and the US Food and Drug Administration reviewed a tremendous amount of resulting clinical data before approving it for use in this country.
- Who is a candidate for the BIRMINGHAM HIP* Resurfacing System?
The typical patient will be physically active, under 60 years of age, and suffering from hip arthritis, hip dysplasia or avascular necrosis of the hip. The implant can be used in patients over 60 whose bone quality is strong enough to support the implant. Your surgeon will make the determination if you are a candidate for hip resurfacing.
- How long will the BIRMINGHAM HIP* Resurfacing implant last?
It is impossible to say how long your implant will last because so many factors play into the lifespan of an implant. A clinical study showed the BIRMINGHAM HIP* Resurfacing implant had a survivorship of 98.4-percent at the five-year mark.
- How long will my scar be?
Your surgeon will use an incision of between six and eight inches in length. While some surgeons may use a slightly smaller incision, most will fall in that range.
- What are my physical limitations after surgery?
Most surgeons will tell you that after the first year, you can return to whatever physical activity you enjoyed before hip pain limited your mobility. For instance, unlike total hip replacement, you will be able to return to jogging or singles tennis after your first year after surgery. During your first year, more conservative, low-impact activities like walking, swimming and bicycling are recommended for strengthening your femoral neck and the muscles around your resurfaced joint.
- How can I receive more information about hip resurfacing and the BIRMINGHAM HIP* implant?
- What is knee replacement?
Knee joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which certain parts of an arthritic or damaged knee joint are removed and replaced with a prosthesis, or artificial joint. The artificial joint is designed to move just like a normal, healthy joint and allows you to get back to enjoying normal, everyday activities without pain.
- How bad does my joint pain have to get before I should consider having joint replacement?
This is a very personal decision that only you can make with the help of an orthopedic specialist’s evaluation of your pain and its effects on your daily life. For example, experiencing knee pain day after day without relief can lead to “staying off” the joint. This often weakens the muscles around it, so it becomes even more difficult to move.
When other more conservative treatment options, including medication and physical therapy, no longer provide pain relief, joint replacement may be recommended.
- What will I need to know about postoperative recovery in the hospital?
Following joint replacement surgery, hospital stays vary depending on insurance coverage and individual medical status. The majority of our patients remain in the hospital for 1-2 days following their knee replacement. Our patients ambulate with the assistance of a walker within hours of their surgery. A physical therapist will work with you while you are in the hospital to get you moving following your knee replacement surgery. The majority of our patients are discharged to home if they have an able bodied person to assist with their recovery process. However, we do have some patients that are discharged to a rehabilitation facility for a short time to assist with their recovery process if they do not have somebody that can help them at home.
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What can I expect in the first days after I'm discharged?
You shouldn’t be surprised if you feel a little shaky and uncertain for the first day or two after you’re discharged. But soon you may get a routine going and gain confidence in your new joint — the start of a new life with less pain. As with any surgery, you’ll probably take pain medication for a few days while you are healing. Be aware that you’ll probably need a walker and/or crutches for 2-3 weeks following your surgery and then transition to a cane or no-gait aid depending on the recovery process.
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When will I be able to go back to a normal daily routine, such as going to work or driving a car?
We recommend that patients take 4-6 weeks off work if they have a light duty job where they spend the majority of their day sitting. If someone has a heavy duty job such as construction work or a job that requires them to be on their feet most of the day, we recommend taking 8-10 weeks off work. Most of our patients are able to resume driving within 1-2 weeks after surgery as long as they have discontinued narcotic pain medication and they feel strong and alert enough to drive.
- How long does a knee replacement last?
As successful as most of these procedures are, over the years the artificial joint can become loose or wear out, requiring a revision (repeat) surgery. How long it will last depends not only on a person’s age, but also on a patient’s activity level. These issues, together with the fact that increasing numbers of younger and more active people are receiving total joint replacement, have challenged the orthopedic industry to try to extend the life cycle of total joint replacements.
- What happens during knee replacement surgery?
In surgery, the knee is flexed and the leg suspended. One muscle is separated to expose the femur (thighbone); later, the tibia (shinbone) is exposed. The damaged surfaces at the end of the thighbone are trimmed and shaped to fit inside the total knee prosthesis. The shinbone is cut flat across the top and a hole is created in the center to hold the stem of the tibial component. If needed, the knee cap is trimmed and the patellar component attached.
At various points during surgery, the alignment, function, and stability of the knee joint are evaluated and required adjustments are made. The prosthesis components are cemented into place, any contracted ligaments are released, the midvastus muscle is reconstructed, and the incision is closed.
- When can I discontinue dressing changes?
Generally, dressings should be worn for the first few days following the surgery. However, if there is no longer any drainage from the incision, dressing changes may be discontinued.
- How long will I be on a blood thinner postoperatively?
All of our patients who undergo joint replacement are placed on a blood thinner for the first three weeks postoperatively. Depending on your personal and family history and recovery process, you may be stopped as early as two weeks postoperatively.
