What is Hip Prosthesis?
Age, injury, or various diseases can cause wear on the hip joints. Worn hip joints cause pain with movement, walking, sitting, and getting up. Activities decrease over time. For this reason, hip prosthesis surgery may be necessary.
In Which Diseases Is Total Hip Prosthesis Used?
It is a surgery that is mainly performed after middle age. There is no upper limit for this surgery. According to its indication, it can be applied to anyone who has completed or is about to complete bone development. It is a pain-clumping-shortening surgery with excellent results, which produces a definite solution for the blood supply problems of the femoral head called developmental hip dysplasia or avascular necrosis, especially in young people between the ages of 20-40.
Generally, childhood disease sequelae such as calcification, hip dislocation, growth plate slippage, rheumatic diseases, inflammatory sequelae, tumors, advanced age hip fractures, and bone necrosis after blood supply problems are the disease groups in which hip prosthesis is applied. People with these diseases are candidates for hip prosthesis surgery if they have not benefited from or are expected to benefit from non-surgical treatments.
What Are The Types Of Total Hip Prosthesis?
While the main parts of today’s modern prostheses on the thigh and pelvis are made of chrome, cobalt, or titanium, The spacers they articulate may also be of ceramic, polyethylene, or metal structure. For example, when it comes to the ceramic hip prosthesis, It is understood that the material used in these spacers is ceramic. Other than that, the main parts that sit on the bones are metal. It is fully compatible with the body.
How Long Does The Hip Prosthesis Last?
It is aimed that the hip prosthesis will last a lifetime when a specialist surgeon, quality center, and quality materials are used. Although it depends on many factors, the prosthesis is expected to last for at least 15 years if the quality is not compromised. There are also patients for whom this period is 30 years or more. In patients with long-term follow-up at regular intervals, When the prosthesis reaches the end of its life, it is possible to replace only the spacers instead of the entire prosthesis. In some cases, when the prosthesis has completed its life, the complete prosthesis can be returned, including the main parts that fit on the bone. In both cases, the life of the new prostheses can be the same as the first prostheses.
Who Can Not Have A Hip Prosthesis?
Contrary to popular belief, this surgery can be successfully applied to young women who are considering becoming pregnant in the future. Besides:
- Those with poor personal hygiene, dementia, or mental illness
- Individuals with an active infection in the hip
- Those with advanced insufficiency in arteries or veins
- Those with muscle paralysis around the hips due to neurological diseases are unsuitable candidates for this surgery.
- Most importantly, if the surgeon’s experience is insufficient or the conditions of the health institution are not sufficient, if the highest quality implants will not be used, it is not appropriate to perform a hip prosthesis.
What Are The Complications After Hip Prosthesis Surgery?
Hip prosthesis surgery is an operation that can have potential risks for inexperienced hands. In addition, the success rate is very high with good centers, experienced people, and quality materials. It is one of the surgeries with the highest satisfaction rate among all branch surgeries.
Infection is the most feared issue in hip prosthesis surgeries, and the most precautions are taken to prevent it. When there is an infection, the prosthesis of the prosthesis is also on the agenda. It also requires long-term use of antibiotics. The risk of infection is shallow in good centers. The life of the prosthesis is expected to be very long with modern designs. However, long-term heavy work will naturally shorten the life of the prosthesis. Due to this, prosthetic spacers may wear prematurely. Small particles due to wear may accumulate at the bone and prosthesis interface and cause loosening of the prosthesis. In this case, the prosthesis needs to be replaced. If not changed, it can lead to irreversible bone resorption. Since revision surgery is more technical and challenging than the first, it must be performed in good centers and with experienced hands. Although there is a risk of clots after hip prosthesis, It is possible to prevent it or to treat it successfully when it occurs, with measures such as the use of compression stockings after surgery, taking blood thinners, and starting an early movement. Other possible complications include dislocation of the prosthesis, vascular and nerve injury, and fractures around the prosthesis.