Five Things You Should Know About Hip Joint Replacement Surgery

There are a number of things that a patient should be thoroughly aware of before having total hip joint replacement surgery. Here are five things that a patient should be well versed in.

The first thing to know is that significant changes have been made in hip joint replacement surgery in the past twenty to thirty years. That knowledge will help those fearful of surgery become more at ease with the notion of hip replacement. A surgery that was once nearly never used on patients over eighty is now routinely performed in advanced years. This is due to substantial refinements in this once all-or-nothing procedure. Originally, total hip replacement was the only surgical opportunity, and it typically resulted in long hospitalization and recovery. This invasive procedure frequently resulted in complications that were too overwhelming for the very elderly patient.

Today, many people are having less invasive hip replacements because of new and improved surgical techniques. A new procedure called anterior hip replacement for those who only need the top of the femur replaced with a metal cap results in a far less difficult recovery. The anterior hip replacement is performed while the patient reclines with legs placed apart in a specifically designed chair. The incision is made in the front of the thigh and is a fairly small one. Total hip replacement involves a much larger incision that is made vertically to the lateral view of the thigh.

The second thing that someone needs to know about hip replacement is that there are now medical practices and surgical centers that specialize in these procedures. Always consult with a regular doctor before choosing a hospital, but these centers can make this operation a less stressful one. These centers often have support groups, and there is less likelihood that complications will go unnoticed.

Third on the need-to-know informational list is that these surgeries are covered by most major medical plans and Medicaid. Most insurance plans will only cover about 80% of this operation though, leaving a cost that sometimes under $10,000 for most, but in some areas the costs are very high.

The fourth thing to know about hip replacement is that it isn't just for retirees anymore. With the advancements in surgical remedies, doctors have become much more likely to prescribe hip replacement for their younger patients. Don't be surprised if a forty-year-old who seemed to be very active is told to have hip replacement after other approaches have failed, and pain is chronic.

The fifth thing one should know about hip replacement surgery is that even with the great strides that medicine has recently made, recovery may take time. Most of the newer procedures go smoothly. When the anticipated recovery time is exceeded and hip pain is still present, always allow a little more time before assuming that something is wrong because healing times are always approximate. Everyone's body is different and will deal in their own way with total hip replacement surgery.

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