Advantages and Disadvantages of Hip Replacement Surgery

A hip replacement surgery involves inserting an implant to replace damaged or diseased hip joint components. With the help of this replacement, the hip joint’s functionality is improved, enabling the patient to move freely and pain-free. 

There are two possible replacements: full and partial. This implies that it is possible to replace the joint entirely or just a portion of it. These components can be the acetabulum or the head of the femur, the two halves of the hip joint.

Come along as we compare the advantages and disadvantages of hip replacement surgery in the following article.

What happens in hip replacement surgery?

Hip replacement surgery is performed under anaesthesia. The kind of anaesthetic you take will depend on your requirements and the advice of your anaesthetist. 

After administering anaesthesia to the patient, the hip is cut along the side, allowing the surgeon to extract the upper femur from its socket. 

Subsequently, an artificial ball-and-socket joint replaces it. In most cases, the procedure takes less than two hours.

Any hip replacement surgery involves substituting an artificial hip joint for the damaged hip, regardless of whether it’s an urgent hip replacement or a standard procedure.

Benefits of hip replacement surgery

Improved strength and mobility

The first main advantage is improved strength and mobility after pain alleviation. Patients with hip replacements should be able to perform simple activities like walking and climbing stairs without assistance.

Pain relief

Long-lasting effects and increased mobility are essential benefits, although pain alleviation is the main gain. Hip arthritis can impact every aspect of life.

After a successful operation, hip pain relief can improve quality of life and offer instant advantages.

Improved quality of life

In addition to the previously mentioned advantages, better quality of life is a benefit that should not be undervalued. Regaining the capacity to perform basic activities like walking and stair climbing might greatly benefit a person’s mental health. 

A patient may feel considerably more independent and less of a burden on their support system when they have a more excellent range of motion.

Hip replacement Disadvantages

Patients should also be informed about the possibility of fractures and nerve damage after surgery. One potentially dangerous side effect of hip replacement surgery is nerve damage.

It is regarded as rare since it affects between 0.6 and 3.7% of individuals.

Change in leg length

After hip replacement, it is possible for one leg to feel longer or shorter than the other on occasion. Although leg lengths will be maintained equally by your orthopaedic surgeon, slight variations may occur due to the surgeon’s primary aim, maximising hip stability.

An experienced surgeon should balance the length of your legs and the stability of your hips.

Increased risk of fecal incontinence

Incontinence after hip replacement surgery is often caused by damage to muscles and nerves around the bladder, leading to urge fecal incontinence.

This can improve over time but maybe a permanent side effect. Weakness in pelvic floor muscles supporting the bladder can cause stress incontinence.

 Kegel exercises can help strengthen these muscles. Hormone levels also play a role, making incontinence more common in women and menopause.