Overview of Procedure
Hip resurfacing involves surgically replacing the arthritic surface of the hip joint with metal-on-metal parts. The purpose of the operation is to stop the bones from rubbing against each other, which causes chronic pain in patients with severe hip damage. Hip resurfacing is considered an alternative to hip replacement. In a hip replacement, the entire femoral head is replaced with man made parts, whereas in a hip resurfacing operation, the femoral head is preserved and only the surface is replaced. Some orthopedic specialists have suggested that this bone preservation makes hip resurfacing a superior treatment to hip replacement, especially in more active, younger patients.
The Right Candidates
Many people who suffer from hip pain under the age of 60 will traditionally require a second hip replacement. For patients who need this, hip resurfacing might be the better option.
Risks and Side Effects
Your hip joint will feel sore for several weeks and may have some temporary pain and swelling in your knee and ankle.
Surgery
During the operation, an incision is made over the hipbone, and the thigh muscle is parted. The damaged parts of the hip joint are resurfaced, and a metal cap is attached to the ball of the thighbone. A new metal surface is then applied to the pelvis. The metal-on-metal allows for a smooth mobility of the new joint, and the elimination of pain. The surgery normally takes 2-3 hours.
Recovery
Once the procedure has finished, patients are encouraged to begin rehabilitation as early as possible, with the help of a physiotherapist. This early activity and mobility helps prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and other complications from developing. Typically patients can leave the hospital 3-4 days after the operation, and must continue physiotherapy for several weeks.
Results
When you pass though metal detectors at airports, they will likely be set off because of the metal properties of the prosthesis. Many hospitals issue cards or letters that you can show to the authorities in these cases, but because these cards can be easily counterfeited, they are often disregarded. You can simply tell the authorities about your hip operation (it is a common enough situation that they should be quite used to dealing with). Usually the officials will simply pat the area to make sure there are no metallic devices aside from the prosthetic.
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