Total Hip Replacement (THR)

 

Other names

 

• Hip Arthroplasty

• Cemented Hip Replacement

• Cementless Hip Replacement

• Hybrid Hip Replacement

 

Causes

 

Osteoarthritis of the hip is the most common reason for a hip replacement. Osteoarthritis is caused by the wear and tear of aging. It causes the cartilage covering the joint surfaces to wear out, resulting in pain and stiffness. Other conditions that can cause destruction of the hip joint include loss of the blood supply to the head of the thighbone (osteonecrosis), rheumatoid arthritis, injury, infection, and developmental abnormalities of the hip. Patients with arthritis may also have brittle bones (osteoporosis), but there is no direct relationship between bone density and the development of arthritis of the hip.

 

Symptoms

 

Hip arthritis typically causes pain that is dull and aching. The pain may be constant or it may come and go. Pain may be felt in the groin, thigh, and buttock, or there may be referred pain to the knee. Walking, especially for longer distances, may cause a limp. Some patients may need a cane, crutch, or walker to help them get around. Pain usually starts slowly and worsens with time and higher activity levels.

 

Patients with hip arthritis may have difficulty climbing stairs. Dressing, tying shoes, and clipping toenails can be difficult or impossible. Pain may also interfere with sleep.

 

Diagnostics

 

Your consultant will readily be able to diagnose hip arthritis.  This will be done through a physical examination, supported by X-ray.  The x-ray may show loss of the cartilage space in the hip socket and a "bone-on-bone" appearance. Bone spurs and bone cysts are common. Depending upon the extent of your condition, you may be referred for an MRI, which will provide a greater level of detail to your consultant.

 

Non- surgical Treatment

 

Hip arthritis is never life threatening, the main aim of treatment is therefore symptomatic for pain and to try to keep mobility and range of movement of the joint. Treatment follows a progression from simple measures to major surgical intervention.  There are a range of non-surgical approaches to be exhausted prior to the need for surgical intervention:

 

• Exercise – Low impact exercise such as walking, swimming and cycling keeps muscle strength and tone. Hip joint stretches to keep the hip supple are beneficial. A consultation with a physiotherapist for education and a home exercise program can be useful.

• Walking stick – Using a walking stick in the opposite hand reduces load in the hip and usually increases your walking distance. A strong stick of correct length with a non-slip rubber end is best.

• Paracetamol – A simple but safe analgesic when used correctly. Often needs to be used 3 or 4 times a day (1000mg / 2 tablets on each occasion). This can be safely used by most people at prolonged periods at these doses.

• Natural remedies – Often not proven but some people gain relief from various naturopathic potions, magnets, acupuncture and the like. This affect may be placebo but some plant substances have proven anti-inflammatory effects. You should check the use of these with your local Doctor as some may react with other medicines or be dangerous.

• Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate – The most common arthritis remedies at the present time. There is some early evidence that over time they may help to maintain articular cartilage and slow progression of Osteoarthritis. Nothing can ‘put cartilage back’ after Osteoarthritis is established. Some people also report a reduction in arthritis symptoms when taking these substances. Their main side effect is diarrhoea. They should not be taken if you are pregnant or allergic to shellfish.

• Fish oils – Have been associated with some improvement in cartilage quality and may be beneficial.

• Anti-inflammatories (NSAID’s) – Several types of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are available. They can be very effective in reducing pain and swelling associated with osteoarthritis. All these medications have potential side effects and are not always tolerated. The most common effects are: exacerbating asthma, stomach upset (ulcers etc), increased blood pressure and ankle swelling.

• Weight loss – There is no doubt that if you are above ideal weight, weight loss can have a significant impact in reducing pain from osteoarthritis. Weight loss can also reduce the risk of anaesthetic complications and wound healing. Many people after losing weight no longer need surgery for their Osteoarthritis. You may be given an ideal weight to attain prior to consideration for surgery. Consulting a dietician may be beneficial.

• Injections – A hip injection is often used by your orthopaedic consultant to differentiate between back pain and hip joint pain. An injection is given to ‘numb’ the hip and you then keep a record of the pain experienced. Sometimes steroids are used to provide longer relief of pain. The procedure is done under X-ray guidance with a small risk of infection.

 

Surgical Treatment

 

Pain and mobility may worsen with hip osteoarthritis, even when all of the recommended nonsurgical treatments have been tried. If this happens, your consultant may recommend surgery. Options inlude:

 

• Osteotomy. Candidates for osteotomy include younger patients with early arthritis, particularly those with an abnormally shallow hip socket (dysplasia). The procedure involves cutting and realigning the bones of the hip socket and/or thighbone to decrease pressure within the joint. In some people, this may delay the need for replacement surgery for 10 to 20 years.

 

• More often, you will require hip replacement.  There are a number of options available and types of implants. 

 

• Traditional Hip Replacement

 

Traditional hip replacement surgery involves making a 10- to 12-inch incision on the side of the hip and takes 60 – 90 minutes. The muscles are split or detached from the hip, allowing the hip to be dislocated.

 

Once the joint has been opened up and the joint surfaces exposed, the surgeon removes the ball at the top of the thighbone, or femur. The hip socket is prepared by removing any remaining cartilage and some of the surrounding bone. A cup-shaped implant is then pressed into the bone of the hip socket. It may be secured with screws. A smooth plastic bearing surface is then inserted into the implant so the joint can move freely.

 

Next, the femur is prepared. A metal stem is placed into the femur to a depth of about 6 inches. The stem implant is either fixed with bone cement or is implanted without cement. Cementless implants have a rough, porous surface. It allows bone to adhere to the implant to hold it in place. A metallic ball is then placed on the top of the stem. The ball-and-socket joint is recreated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post-surgery rehabilitation

 

For traditional hip replacement, hospital stays average 3 to 5 days. Many patients need extensive rehabilitation afterward. With less-invasive procedures, the hospital stay may be as short as 1 or 2 days. Some patients can go home the day of surgery.

 

The anaesthetic will wear off after approximately 6 hours.  Simple analgesia (pain killers) usually controls the pain and should be started before the anaesthetic has worn off.  Typical post-surgery may be:

 

• Day 1:  Mobilise with physiotherapy and a frame/crutches.

• Day 2:  Mobilise with physiotherapy and independently with elbow crutches/walking sticks.

• Day 3-5:  Return home.  Before leaving hospital you will be given an appointment for the outpatients clinic. This appointment is a routine check-up to ensure that you are making satisfactory progress. It is likely that you will also be offered physiotherapy to aid your rehabilitation and improve your recovery time. Once you return home, you may need to continue to take your painkillers if you need to, as advised by your surgeon. You may also be advised to continue to wear compression stockings. Walking without the aid of a stick is often possible from four to six weeks following surgery, although this will be determined by your confidence and progress and you should follow the advice from your surgeon and physiotherapist. You will be fully weight bearing six weeks following surgery and it is important that if you have any problems that you contact your surgical team immediately. Six weeks following your surgery you may return to driving, low impact sports and work although this may depend on your employers’ liability insurance. Some patients experience swelling of the thigh on the operated side, but this usually disappears within three months. A few patients may experience clicking or other sounds from their new hip, but this rarely causes problems and usually disappears after a few months.

 

Dressings

• The large is normally removed 24-48 hours after surgery.

• Sutures are removed after 10 days.

 

Return to normal routine

 

Bathing and showering

The wounds should be kept clean and dry until the wound has sealed. Showering is fine and the waterproof dressings can be changed afterwards. Bathing is best avoided until the wounds are sealed, typically 10 days after surgery. In summary, whilst the wounds are wet - keep them dry and when the wounds are dry, you can get them wet!  

Rehabilitation

Surgery is followed by a prolonged course of physiotherapy. This requires a commitment to undertake this rehabilitation in order to achieve the best possible result (at least half an hour per day for 6 months).  It is vitally important to stay within the post-operative activity restrictions an physiotherapy guidelines to avoid damaging stretching your reconstructed ligament.  

Return to work

The timing of your return to work depends on the type of work and your access, however, the following is a general guide:  

• Desk work: as soon as pain allows and you can travel easily to and from work (2 weeks)

• Light duties: if the job allows partial use of crutches or limited walking (2-5 weeks). If the job involves standing for prolonged walking, bending, lifting, stairs but no squatting (7-8 weeks)

• Heavy duties: full squatting, heavy lifting, digging, in and out of heavy machinery, ladder work etc (3-4 months) 

Driving

When you can walk without crutches or a limp and be in control of your vehicle (about 4-6 weeks).

 

Risks

 

Hip Replacement is an extremely safe and reliable operation. However there is a risk of problems or complications with any surgery.

 

These risks include:

 

• Infection, which can occur with any operation. Special precautions are taken during surgery to diminish this risk, however, the risk still exists but there is <1% chance of developing a serious infection (major wound breakdown, septic arthritis or osteomyelitis).

• Injury to blood vessels or nerves. Major injuries to these structures are extremely rare, although it is not uncommon to develop some reduced sensation around the shin wound, this rarely causes a problem

• Deep vein thrombosis / pulmonary embolus (DVT/PE) (blood clots) can also occur as with all operations (<0.2% of a serious clot).  This does pose a definite but miniscule risk to life (<1:10000).

• Stiffness of the hip joint can result from a number of causes. Fortunately these are rare. Some individuals are predisposed to form excessive and thick scar tissue. This is treated by surgical excision of the scar tissue (0.5%)

All these risks are uncommon and in total, the chance of you or your hip being worse off in the long term is about or less than 1%.