The hip comprises a ball-and-socket joint that allows a wide range of motion. Any damage to the cartilage covering the joint surface may cause the ball to move less freely and smoothly within the socket, and cause pain. If the hip pain or loss of mobility is interfering with your daily life and activities, you should consider hip replacement surgery in Los Angeles & Beverly Hills.
Hip replacement is usually recommended for people suffering from:
- Severe osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
- Hip development problems during childhood
- Fractures resulting from osteoporosis and similar conditions.
How Hip Replacement Works
During a hip replacement operation, the surgeon replaces the damaged surfaces with artificial parts made of plastic, ceramic, or metal.
There are two types of hip replacement surgeries:
- Total hip replacement – Dr. Rajan Patel, MD will remove part of the femur (thigh bone) including the head (ball) and replace it with a smaller artificial ball. He will also roughen the surface of the socket in the pelvis and fit an artificial socket that articulate with the new ball. The surfaces of the implants may be treated to encourage bone growth onto them to hold it together, or simply cemented.
- Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing – Instead of removing the head and part of the femur and replacing them, Dr. Patel will fit a hollow metal cap over the head of the thigh bone, and resurface the socket. This reduces the risk of dislocation and allows the patient to engage in more strenuous physical activities. However, metal particles from friction in the replacement material may inflame nearby tissues resulting in complications.
Is Hip Replacement Risky?
Hip arthritis doesn’t necessarily mean that you will need a hip replacement. Your doctor will try other non-surgical interventions, including pain relief medication, physiotherapy, steroid injection into the hip joint, or walking aids before recommending hip replacement. But if your hip is severely damaged, resulting in severe pain, stiffness, or disability, then surgery may be your best option.
My experience with Dr. Patel was excellent. I had a right hip joint replacement operation that was without incident or complication. It was, in fact, a much easier and simpler procedure than I had ever imagined. I spent one night in the hospital. In less than a week I was starting to move around (with a “walker” at first). I attribute the ease of the recovery to Dr. Patel’s ability and skill.
Although there’s some risk involved with all major operations, hip replacement is generally very successful and beneficial for most people who proceed with the surgery. Generally, getting an experienced surgeon to perform your hip replacement procedure can give you freedom of pain, improved mobility, and improved quality of life with low risk of complications.