Hip pain can stop you from enjoying your favorite activities. Thankfully, many treatment options are available, depending on the exact problem. One such treatment your orthopedic doctor may recommend is anterior hip replacement surgery.
Let’s learn more about anterior hip replacement surgery and where you can go in Kingsport, Tennessee, for outstanding hip replacement surgery.
Why Would I Need My Hip Replaced
You may need hip replacement surgery if you suffer from pain in the hip, buttock, or groin regions that make it challenging to move around or sleep and get worse if weight or pressure is placed on the affected side.
Your doctor would recommend this treatment option only when the nonsurgical methods, such as medication, weight loss, lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and walking aids, can’t help ease pain, inflammation, and stiffness.
Patients with severe osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the common candidates for this procedure. Diseases such as osteonecrosis, where parts of your bone die due to a lack of blood supply, can also be treated this way.
How Does Anterior Hip Replacement Surgery Work
Before the Surgery
You need to go through a series of tests to clear you up for the surgery and reduce the risk of complications. These may include urine and blood tests and an electrocardiogram. Your surgeon may also ask for an X-ray of your hip.
Your surgeon will also check the lower extremities of your body to evaluate the severity of your condition. They may examine how you walk and look for abnormalities like swelling or discoloration. They can also test your muscle strength, nerve functions, and range of motion.
If you smoke or drink alcohol, you must stop these weeks before your surgery. Likewise, let your doctor know what medication you’re taking.
On the day of the surgery, you should avoid eating or drinking 8 to 12 hours before the procedure.
During the Surgery
Once in the hospital, you will be asked to remove your clothes and accessories and change into a hospital gown. You will then be sedated with a spinal block, which numbs your lower body, or general anesthesia.
Your surgeon will make a cut at the front of the hip joint to create an opening. The size of this cut depends on different factors, such as age, weight, and fitness level.
Your orthopedic surgeon will remove the damaged or diseased bone tissue. The replacement joint will then be positioned properly and cemented in place. The cut will then be closed with staples or sutures.
On average, anterior hip replacement takes up to 2 hours. Since smaller incisions are made, it allows for less damage to the surrounding muscle and tendons. The new hip relieves the previous pain and increases the range of motion.
After the Surgery
You will be taken to a recovery room after the operation. While the anesthesia is wearing off, the medical staff will monitor and check your vital signs. They will also provide medication like anti-inflammatory drugs to deal with postsurgical pain.
Depending on how the procedure went and any health conditions you have, you may go home on the same day as the surgery.
Whether or not you stay in the hospital for recovery, you will still undergo physical therapy to help regain muscle strength and range of motion. Every patient’s experience varies, and gaining the full benefits of therapy may take up to a whole year. Your doctor and physical therapist will monitor your progress and adjust your program as necessary.
During the entire recovery process, be sure to keep the surgical area clean and dry. You can expect some fluid to drain from the cut made by your surgeon, but this is nothing to worry about. You will be prescribed medication to take, so remember to follow your surgeon’s instructions. It also helps to elevate the leg when not in use.
While recovery will take time, you will eventually be able to return to your old routine through patience and dedication.
Hip Replacement Near Me in East Tennessee
Suffering from any manner of hip pain holds you back from being the best you. Therefore, you must seek immediate orthopedic care before it gets worse.
For the best care for your hips, come and meet our board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Associated Orthopaedics. Our highly trained specialists offer all our patients expert diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. We will work with you to provide both non-invasive and surgical treatment options for your muscular and skeletal problems.
To learn more about your orthopedic concerns, you can schedule a consultation using this appointment form. You can also call us at (423) 245-3161. Here at Associated Orthopaedics, we will always put you first.
We look forward to providing you with the best treatment for your orthopedic problems!
