If you are advised Hip Replacement surgery, you may want to know more details about it. Here we list the most commonly asked questions about hip replacement and their answers. If you want any further clarification please do not hesitate to ask either Dr. Thakkar or one of his associates.

Q: What are the conditions, for which the hip replacement is advised?
A: Hip replacement is advised for many painful hip disorders. Some of them are fresh or old fractures of either the socket or the ball, failure of previous fixation and arthritis of the hip.

Q: For which painful hip disorder, hip replacement can not be done?
A: If the hip pain is due to infection in the joint or the bones, hip replacement is contra indicated

Q: At what age can joint replacement be done?
A: Joint replacement is ideally done for patient above the age of 60 years. It may be done between ages of 40 and 60. It is rarely done between ages of 20 and 40. It is never done in children.

Q: What are the types of hip replacements?
A: Hip replacement could be either hemi replacement in which only ball of the femur is replaced, or total hip replacement in which ball is replaced and even the socket is changed. Both the hemi and total replacement may either be of cemented variety or non-cemented variety.

Q: What is the difference between cemented and non cemented hips?
A: The parts of the artificial hip may either be fixed to bone with a substance called Methyl Methacrylate (Bone cement), or they are pressfit in the bone with capacity for the bone to stick to the parts. This Uncemented hip is used mainly for younger individuals.

Q: What is the commonly used material for joint replacement ?
A: Commonly used material for joint replacement is either stainless steel called Cobalt Chrome alloy or a metal known as Titanium and a Plastic called Ultra high Molecular Weight High Density Polyethylene.

Q: What is the average time taken for surgery ?
A: The average time taken for joint replacement surgery is 2 hours.

Q: What is the average hospital stay recommended after joint replacement?
A: The hospital stay is for seven days after single joint replacement. For both joints done at the same sitting, one has to stay for about two weeks.

Q: When does the exercise program start after joint replacement ?
A: Exercises start within a day after joint replacement, while walking is started 2 - 3 days after joint replacement.

Q: Does one need some support of walker or stick after joint replacement?
A: You may need temporary support of walker or walking stick after joint replacement. Whether you need a permanent support depends on whether other joints are affected.

Q: Can a person with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart trouble undergo joint replacement ?
A: Even a person with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart trouble can safely undergo joint replacement surgery under medical supervision.

Q: What are the precautions to be taken after joint replacement?
A: It is advisable to use commode, avoid sitting on floor, jogging, running and fast sports after joint replacement surgery. Moderate speed walking, climbing stairs and swimming are permitted.

Q: What are the common complications after joint replacement ?
A :The complications after joint replacement are Deep vein thrombosis and Infection.

Q: What precautions are taken to prevent these complications ?
A: To prevent deep vein thrombosis, early exercises are started, and in some patients specialised medication is administered. To prevent infection, surgery is carried out in specialised operation theatre and antibiotics are given pre-operatively.

Q: Can these operation be done in any Nursing home or Hospital ?
A: No, This is a specialised surgery which requires special set up including proper operation theatre, pre-operative intensive care unit, trained nurses and technicians and expert physiotherapist to achieve desired results.

Q: How much does the surgery cost ?
A: The cost depends on the type of Implant, the type of room that you select and your medical condition. Before surgery a budget can be drawn out.

Q: Is it covered under Mediclaim ?
A: That will depend on your Mediclaim policy.