Wear and tear on the hip joint, which is characteristic of arthritis, can be addressed with hip surgery. A hip replacement, which involves replacing the damaged parts of the joint and other diseased tissue with a prosthesis can produce great outcomes for individuals with hip arthritis.
Hip arthroplasty, or hip replacement surgery, is performed when non-surgical methods no longer alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by joint damage. This procedure is typically recommended for patients in the advanced stages of hip arthritis.
A critical step for this procedure is preoperative planning, which helps ensure a successful outcome from the surgery. Let’s further explore the importance of preoperative planning in hip surgery.
What is Involved in Preoperative Planning for Hip Arthroplasty?
Preoperative planning before a hip replacement is mandatory for patient safety, to arrive at the optimal surgical approach, and to allocate resources for the surgery. Through careful evaluation of the patient’s health, medical history, and imaging studies, preoperative planning helps identify and manage potential risks, tailor surgical approaches, and select appropriate implants.
Some of the steps taken during preoperative planning are:
- Taking the patient’s medical history and assessing the loss of hip function based on the Harris Hip score.
- Weight-bearing X-ray analysis of the hip joint to assess femoral rotation, pelvic inclination, and symmetry.
- Other imaging tests, such as a chest X-ray if the patient is over the age of 60 or under 60 but is a smoker.
- Blood tests to determine the patient’s overall health, as well as anesthetic suitability; the choice of anesthesia is based on factors such as the patient’s overall health.
- Selection of the implant, considering the patient’s age and activity level, and also templating techniques to optimize the shape, position, and size of the hip implant.
- Identifying anatomical landmarks such as the medullary canal, greater and lesser trochanter, acetabular roof, and teardrop are identified to ensure accurate placement of the artificial implant.
- The surgeon determines the surgical approach, based on the patient’s anatomy and hip joint damage.
After the critical steps have been covered, and the patient is found to be a good candidate for the surgery, the orthopedic surgeon will also go over the risks of the surgery and answer any questions the patient may have.
After obtaining the patient’s consent and getting insurance approval, the patient will receive instructions regarding preoperative preparation, such as fasting guidelines, medication protocols, and any specific exercises to optimize healing. Then, the hip replacement surgery will be scheduled.
Plans are also made for postoperative care, including pain management, physical therapy, and rehabilitation protocols. The patient is provided with instructions for postoperative recovery and follow-up appointments for a successful outcome.
What Makes a Good Candidate for a Hip Replacement?
Not everyone with hip joint damage is a good candidate for hip replacement surgery. A good candidate is someone who is generally healthy, maintains a healthy weight, and has not had serious complications following previous surgeries. The ideal candidate is also someone who is highly motivated to participate in their post-operative rehabilitation.
Top Hip Replacement Surgeons in Hartford County, CT & Springfield, MA
The orthopedic surgeons at Advanced Orthopedics New England are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of hip conditions and routinely see patients with advanced hip arthritis. We are highly skilled in the use of minimally invasive techniques to replace a damaged hip joint and provide compassionate support to our patients throughout their journey to recovery.
We will determine if a hip replacement is appropriate for your condition and help you with what you need for a successful outcome from surgery. To schedule an appointment with a top hip replacement surgeon, call our office today at (860) 728-6740.
The friendly team at Advanced Orthopedics New England looks forward to exceeding your expectations for orthopedic patient care.