Total Hip Replacement

When might I need a total hip replacement surgery?

The doctors at ORTHOKnox believe in conservative care, so their first line of treatment is typically nonsurgical. They’re also dedicated to compassionate care that restores your ability to enjoy life, which means they talk with you about all of your options.

When your hip pain persists despite conservative treatment, and immobility interferes with daily activities, your best option may be a total hip replacement, also called hip arthroplasty.

Some of the conditions that commonly result in a total hip replacement include:

• Hip fracture
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Post-traumatic arthritis
• Avascular necrosis (lack of blood supply)
• Persistent problems due to childhood hip disease

In all of these conditions, the bones and cartilage in the hip joint may become so severely damaged that the only way to restore normal movement and alleviate pain is to replace the joint.

What happens during a total hip replacement?

Before your surgery, your doctor at ORTHOKnox explains the procedure to be performed and may discuss three different approaches to hip replacement, the anterior, posterior, or lateral approach.  Each approach has its own benefits, and which approach is right for you depends on multiple factors. Whether the incision is made in the front, back, or side of your hip, your surgeon will discuss the factors that relate to your particular surgery.

Your hip includes the top of your thigh bone (femur), which is shaped like a ball and fits into a rounded socket in your pelvic bone called the acetabulum. The area where the bones meet is normally covered in protective cartilage that allows smooth movement between the bones.

During a total hip replacement, the ball, socket, and cartilage are removed and replaced with prosthetic implants.

After the damaged bone is removed from the socket, it’s replaced with a cup-shaped device that becomes the new socket or acetabulum.

The top of the damaged femur (thigh bone) is removed and replaced with a prosthesis that has the a ball shape design and a metal stem that is inserted down the center of your thigh bone.

These prosthetic implants are made from metal.  Typically it is a combination of titanium and cobalt chrome.  There is also an insert in between the ball and socket which is typically made from a highly finished medical-grade plastic or ceramic.  Both of these surfaces are highly polished with a very low coefficient of friction, allowing the hip to glide smoothly.

Will my hip replacement be done using minimally invasive surgery?

At ORTHOKnox, the surgeons have a mindset towards minimally invasive surgical techniques that will preserve your healthy tissue, while treating or replacing the damaged tissue.  One such technique is the robotic assisted total hip replacement using the MAKOplasty® robot-assisted system. This surgery is considered minimally invasive because it typically allows a smaller incision than traditional surgery.

MAKOplasty enables meticulous alignment and implant placement. The surgeon controls the interactive robotic arm while performing your hip replacement, and the MAKO system assists with information from a CT scan and 3D modeling of your hip.

As the MAKO system guides the surgery with refined detail from your CT scan, your surgeon can precisely remove only the damaged tissue, sparing the maximum amount of healthy tissue and bone.

Hip Replacement Surgery in Knoxville and Athens, TN

If you continue to struggle with hip pain and limited movement, call ORTHOKnox or book an appointment online.