Total Hip Replacement Surgery Procedure

Your surgical team is ready and you're taken to the operating room for your surgery procedure. There you'll be given a general anesthesia which will make you sleep through the surgery. Alternatively, you might receive a spinal block or epidural injected into your lower back that leaves you awake during the surgery while blocking the pain. Discuss these options with your doctor and he'll explain the pros/cons of each method.

An incision (usually 8-12 inches long) is made down the outside of your hip. The ball at the upper end of your femur(thighbone) is cut from the thighbone. The cartilage from your hip socket is also removed, or smoothed. Your new prosthesis will be a ball and socket. A new replacement ball(usually metal) on a stem will be inserted into the top of your femur. The old socket will be hollowed out and a new cup-shaped socket will be attached into your pelvis. The socket is often press-fit. A press-fit prosthesis has tiny pores on its surface that your bone will grow into.

After the stem is secure in the thigh-bone, the ball and socket are joined. The stem of the prosthesis may be secured with cement or press-fit. Your surgeon will choose the method that is best for you. After your new joint is in place, the incision is closed with staples or stitches. Staples are usually removed 14 days after the surgery is performed.

After your surgery procedure, which generally lasts 2-3 hours, you'll be taken to the recovery room where your condition will be monitored. You may have a catheter in your bladder and a drain in your hip. A wedge or two pillows will be placed between your legs to hold your new joint in place. The importance of the wedge/pillows will be discussed in total hip replacement precautions/protocols.

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