For hip pain that fails to respond to conservative treatments, your doctor may recommend hip surgery. Often the last resort for patients dogged with hip problems, surgery can be a life-saver for many. The two most common types of hip surgeries used to treat orthopedic hip conditions are either focused on hip preservation or hip replacement. Many procedures and surgical techniques fit under each of these categories.
Hip Preservation Surgery
This type of hip surgery focuses on making improvements to the existing hip. It is typically recommended to patients with evident damage to the hip cartilage or changes to the hip structure or anatomy but not enough to warrant a hip replacement. Hip preservation surgery is often performed using minimally-invasive techniques, so that recovery is shorter.
When a patient needs preservation surgery, it means there is severe pain and mobility issues that are not responding well to rest, ice and heat therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, injections, and physical therapy exercises. The existing hip can be treated to improve function and lessen symptoms. The surgeon will make an effort to maintain the cartilage lining and preserve the hip to delay the need for hip replacement surgery in the future. In many cases, hip preservation surgery can fix the damage or injury well enough to restore good function for years.
Hip Replacement Surgery
Hip replacement surgery is usually recommended for patients with severe arthritis or hip damage that renders them unable to perform daily activities and live a fulfilling life. This type of surgery involves removal and replacement of damaged parts of the hip joint that have irreversible damage. Over 300,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed in the United States every year. This surgery is typically for patients whose hip issues can no longer be fixed with less invasive surgical procedures.
Hip replacement surgery is performed using either an anterior or posterior approach. As the name suggests, an anterior approach entails the surgeon making an incision on the front of the thigh. In this situation, there is no need to cut through the muscle to remove the damaged joint and replace it with an artificial implant. It is a more complex surgical approach but enables the patient to return to activities quicker because there is less trauma that needs to heal afterward.
Meanwhile, the posterior approach entails the surgeon making an incision in the buttock, splitting the gluteus maximus muscle and detaching and reattaching the hip rotator muscles. Afterward, the femur and socket parts are replaced with artificial ones made of ceramic, plastic, or metal material. The best approach for you will depend on the specificities of your hip problem and overall health.
Hip Surgery in Naples, Florida
If your hip issues are affecting your quality of life, you may be a good candidate for hip surgery. At the Joint Replacement Institute, you are in good hands. Our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons have performed thousands of hip reconstructive surgeries (hip arthroscopy) and hip replacement surgeries in our facility in Naples. Our goal is to reduce pain and restore mobility, so you can live the life you want.
Find out how hip surgery can transform your life. Call the Joint Replacement Institute at (239) 261-2663 or request an appointment now. We look forward to serving you in our cutting-edge orthopedic facility.
