Total Hip Replacement Surgery

The goals of total hip replacement (arthroplasty) are to provide relief of pain and discomfort, improve function and enhance stability in patients suffering from arthritis or any disabling orthopedic hip problem. This goal was originally met in the late 1960’s and has been improved over the past several decades.

In India Total hip replacement is a common surgical procedure with a high success rate. In an arthritic hip, the damaged ball (the upper end of the femur) is replaced by a metal or ceramic ball attached to a metal stem fitted into the femur (with or without cement), and a plastic or ceramic socket (fitted into a metal socket) that is implanted into the pelvis, replacing the damaged socket. Using a combination of metal and plastic, the joint implant surgeon creates a new ball and socket joint, which will glide smoothly and painlessly. During the past two decades, multiple advances in hip arthroplasty have been accomplished and many types of prosthesis are available and currently used. The metals used are chrome cobalt alloy and/or titanium alloy. These are super metals initially developed for the aerospace industry and now adapted for the orthopedic industry. The plastic is a high-density plastic polymer called polyethylene. In younger patients a ceramic ball is used with a polyethylene or ceramic socket.

Methods of total hip replacement surgery:

Modern Total Hiip replacement surgery is divided in two different methods. With elderly people it is often more reasonable to put in and fix the total hip in a softer bone by using bone cement. The advantage of this method is that the prosthesis holds from the very first day and will not loosen itself in the relatively soft bone of an elderly person. This represents a very stable and reasonable construction. Today, a stainless steel prosthesis is inserted into the bone of the upper leg by using a little amount of bone cement and is immediately stable.

The inverse of the hip bone will be shaped and a piece of synthetic material will be fixed with bone cement. The connection is immediately stable. This method has been approved worldwide for over 40 years and is still recommended. The life expectancy of a prosthesis of this kind is a minimum of 10 years, normally 15 years and very often 20 years.

A well established second method is a system of joint replacement without bone cement. In this case titanium trunks are fitted into the upper leg bone (femur) and are fixed by exact insertion into the femur. This method of the cementless prosthesis normally takes a couple of weeks until it is fixed to the upper leg bone. We recommend the use of crutches for 6-8 weeks. In Rheinfelden a titanic cup which is screwed into the bone and also not fixed by bone cement has proved true. In this type of titanic cup either plastic or ceramic inlay is fitted in exactely. The slide bearing (so called „Gleitpaarung“) means that materials for bonehead and inlay of the cup can be different. In most cases the slide bearing plastic and metal has proved to be good. The stay in the clinic in case of a hip replacement usualy is 2 weeks.

Alternatives to Total Hip Replacement Surgery.

Conservative treatment

One alternative is not to have an operation. If your pain can be controlled with medication (pain killers: such as paracetamol, or non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; or disease management medication: like glucosamine-sulfate), physiotherapy, and adapting your physical activities, so that you are sufficiently comfortable and you are content with your present activity level and motion in your hip, then you may decide to wait (AKA watchful waiting). Femoral/acetabular osteotomy

For patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), cutting the thigh bone (femoral astronomy) or pelvis (Ganz, Berne or Bernice osteotomy) in order to realign the hip may be indicated if the hip weight-bearing area can be broadened or made more congruent. This is often useful in young patients. Recovery following osteotomy may be longer than with joint replacement, implicating no weight bearing for 6 weeks up to 3 months!

Arthrodesis

Arthrodesis is rarely performed, but is an especially effective procedure for younger patients, particularly those who are of short stature and who are otherwise healthy. "Arthrodesis" relieves pain by fusing the femoral head to the acetabulum. It has none of the limitations that a joint replacement or other procedure has in terms of restrictions in activity level. If the patient's back is mobile and without symptoms, it is a very worthwhile procedure. The procedure generally requires internal fixation with plate and screws and occasionally cast immobilization while healing takes place. An arthrodesis can be converted to a total hip replacement at a later date, usually 15 years on average after the operation.

Why go to India for total hip replacement surgery?

Orthopedic surgery in Western countries cost 5 to 6 times as much as in India. Over the years, India has become a global centre of excellence in orthopedics surgery including the total hip replacement surgery by promoting the notion that medical services in India can be bought off the shelf from the lowest priced provider anywhere in the globe, care. The concept has broad appeal, as Indian private facilities offer advanced technology and high-quality procedures on par with hospitals in the major industrialized countries at a fraction of the cost It is a deepening of the whole notion of health care that is being pushed today which emphasizes on technology and private enterprise. More and more western patients seeking surgery are looking towards eastern destinations such as India, for their medical needs, including orthopedic procedures like the hip replacement surgery. Once in India you can be rest assured about your proper diagnosis and medication. Furthermore, if situation demands, surgery packages are also within your reach. Medical Treatment in India is amid the best in the world, facilitated by the most skilled doctors and up to the minute super sphere hospitals of India.

Costs for Bilateral Hip replacement surgery:

The total cost of the Hip Replacement Surgery in India is very less as compared to USA or UK. The patient can go back to his country by the 12th day in case of single hip joint replacement and by 20th day after a bilateral hip replacement. The stay is shorter after double hip replacement surgery as the intervening period between sequential knee replacements is avoided.

Dheeraj Bojwani MD is an International Patient Consultant to foreign patients who want to travel to India for getting low cost medical treatment and surgery. More than 400 patients from across the globe have taken the benefits of his services till date.

Forerunners Healthcare Consultants is the premier most medical tourism company of India arranging medical and health tours for International Patients in India. More than 300 patients treated have been treated by Forerunners healthcare Consultants.