Total Hip Replacement

What is it: Total hip replacement surgery, also called total hip arthroplasty, involves removing a diseased hip joint and replacing it with an artificial joint, called a prosthesis

Important Facts: Hip prostheses used in total hip replacements consist of a ball component, made of metal or ceramic, and a socket, which has an insert or liner made of plastic, ceramic or metal. The implants used in hip replacement are biocompatible — meaning they’re designed to be accepted by your body — and they are made to resist corrosion, degradation and wear.

Statistics: Between 200,000 and 300,000 total hip replacement operations are performed in the United States each year, most of them in patients over the age of 60. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), only 5–10% of total hip replacements as of 2002 were in patients younger than 50.

Treatment Duration: A standard total hip replacement operation takes 1-1/2–3 hours. Most patients can start driving six to eight weeks after the operation and return to work full time after eight to 10 weeks, depending on the amount and type of physical exertion their jobs requires.

Do’s/Don’ts: DO NOT move your operated hip toward your chest (flexion) any more than in an right angle. This is 90 degrees. DO NOT sit on chairs without arms. DO NOT sit low on toilet or chair. DO NOT turn your knee cap inward when sitting, standing, or lying down.

Common Myths: “There’s a new surgical technique or approach where the patient has total hip replacement surgery, throws away the crutches and goes home the next day”

Sounds too good to be true? It probably is. Of course, it is possible to have total hip replacement surgery, take a significant dose of pain medication and go home the next day. The reality is that total hip replacement is a major operation involving trauma to tissue and removal and replacement of bone. In the interests of your best recovery, there has to be a period of recuperation and rehabilitation.

Breakthrough Treatment: At Sport and Spine Physical Therapy and Wellness Center in Tampa and Wesley Chapel, FL our Dr. Ryan Whelton implements a revolutionary treatment method for total hip replacement rehab that offers immediate pain relief using no needles, no drugs, no manipulations and no surgery! This hip pain treatment is so cutting edge, you will not find this anywhere else in Tampa, FL, Wesley Chapel, FL or the U.S.