Hip Replacement Surgery: Understanding Orthopedic Treatment & Recovery

Orthopedic surgeons can perform arthroscopy, or joint replacement surgery. For a person with significant hip pain, surgical replacement of the hip joint could provide relief.

Reasons

• A patient could require hip replacement surgery because of osteoarthritis or injury to the hip resulting in pain, stiffness and loss of mobility. An orthopedic surgeon can diagnose the problem and plan surgery to correct it.

Hip Replacement Surgery

• In hip replacement surgery, the diseased or damaged portion of the hip joint is removed. The orthopedic surgeon then replaces it with an artificial joint, according to "Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation."

Aftercare

• After performing a hip replacement, an orthopedic surgeon will monitor the patient for the development of blood clots or significant swelling. In the long term, the patient will need physical therapy to regain full use of her hip.