Hip Replacement Solutions

In patients with severely impaired hip joints, prosthetic surgery is an operation to replace the damaged joint with an artificial joint.

Hip prosthesis parts consist of main parts made of cobalt chrome or titanium and plastic, metal or ceramic spacers where they articulate.

The hip prosthesis attaches to the bone in two ways;

In elderly patients with poor bone quality, a filler called bone cement is used to hold the prosthesis to the bone.

The hip prosthesis is attached to the bone in two ways;

In elderly patients with poor bone quality, the prosthesis is attached to the bone with a filler called bone cement.
In young patients with good bone quality, the prosthesis has a part covered with a porous material and this part is placed very tightly into the bone. Over time, the bone tissue moves into the pores on the prosthesis and strengthens the attachment.

Who can undergo hip replacement surgery?
Hip arthritis, hip dislocation and related joint damage, fracture or vascularization disorder due to joint damage, hip prosthesis surgery is applied when non-surgical treatment methods (medications, physical therapy, intra-articular injections, cane use) do not produce results.

Hip replacement surgery is the best treatment option in cases of severe pain, restricted mobility and shortness of stature that interfere with activities of daily living.

Patients over 60 years of age are preferred, but it can also be applied in younger age groups when necessary (in rheumatic diseases).

What should I do after hip replacement surgery?It is not appropriate to do activities such as running, jumping and heavy work after prosthesis surgery. Such behavior will lead to premature wear of the prosthesis.

Sitting on low chairs and crossing legs is not appropriate, especially in the first 6 months.

You should not sit on the floor and use the toilet for the rest of your life.

If you are praying, you should do it sitting on a chair.

You can drive 6-8 weeks after surgery, but the driver’s seat should be high and the hip joint should not be excessively bent.

You should have a pillow between your legs when lying down for six weeks. Some of these restrictions may not apply to hip prostheses with new designs and large head structures.

6 weeks after prosthesis surgery, you can do sports such as swimming, golf, walking and use an exercise bike. Sports such as tennis, soccer, basketball are not suitable.

How long does a hip prosthesis last?

The lifespan of hip prostheses using appropriate surgical techniques and modern prosthesis designs has been extended to 15-20 years. Newly developed hip prostheses with ceramic and metal interfaces are expected to last longer. In most patients, loosened prostheses can be removed and replaced with a new hip prosthesis in a second operation, but the second operation is more difficult, requires the use of larger prostheses and the second prosthesis does not last as long as the first.

What happens during hip replacement surgery?

General anesthesia or epidural anesthesia (lumbar anesthesia) is used to anesthetize you.

The operation takes around 2 hours.

Pain pumps are used to prevent postoperative pain.

Blood may be given because you lose blood during and after the operation.

For the first few days, a pillow may be placed between your legs to prevent your knees from touching each other.

The day after surgery, you will be stood up and can walk short distances using a walker or crutches.

You will need to use toilet elevators in the hospital and at home, as it is not suitable for you to sit in low places.

The average hospital stay is between 2-5 days.
After discharge, it is very important to do exercises at home.
You may need to take blood thinners for some time after you leave the hospital to prevent blood clots forming in your legs.

Things you should not do after surgery !!!

Do not cross your legs for at least 2 months
When sitting, do not lean forward and pick something up, do not try to put on socks
Do not raise your knees above hip level
Do not sit on a saturated toilet
Do not lean too far forward when sitting up

What problems can occur after hip replacement surgery?
The most common problem is clot formation in the veins (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) due to slowed blood flow in your leg. To prevent this, preventive treatment with blood-thinning medication is administered after the operation. This treatment can be extended up to 20 days if necessary. Starting to walk in the early postoperative period and avoiding immobilization will reduce this risk. The use of compression stockings may be useful.

Infection, i.e. inflammation of the prosthesis, occurs between 0.1% and 1.5% of the time after surgery. If infection develops, repeated surgeries, removal of the prosthesis and reinsertion after a certain period of time may be necessary.

Dislocation of the prosthesis occurs in 5-8% of cases. It is very important to avoid certain movements especially during the first 6 weeks after surgery.

Height inequality between the legs may be observed during surgery. Length differences up to about 2 cm do not cause a problem as they will be balanced by the body. If necessary, the problem can be solved by placing a height in the shoe.

In addition, unwanted problems such as wound healing problems, vascular or nerve injuries, dislocation of some parts of the prosthesis, fractures around the prosthesis, fractures in the prosthesis itself may occur.

What should be done to prevent infection after hip replacement surgery?

There is a risk that bacteria that get into the bloodstream can reach your hip prosthesis, settle and cause an infection.

If you are going to undergo a dental or urinary tract surgery within the first 2 years after hip replacement surgery, you should definitely take antibiotics beforehand.

It is especially important to protect against infection with an appropriate antibiotic one hour before procedures such as tooth extraction, scaling and root canal treatment.