Before the surgery
1. Your supervising physician will perform blood work and other tests that are necessary for the surgery.
2.The internist will perform a series of medical examinations on you.
3.Confirmation of whether you have other medical conditions before surgery.
4.Pre-arrangement and planning of the surgical room.
5.To prevent the risk of bleeding, stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin 10 days before the surgery.
6.Stop any herbal treatment 10 days before surgery.
7.Stop smoking.
Hospitalization and surgery day
1.You will be admitted to the hospital on the day of your surgery.
2.Further tests will be performed at the time of admission.
3.You will talk with the nurse and answer questions related to hospital records.
4.You will talk to the anesthesiologist and answer questions.
5. You will change into patient clothes and take a shower before surgery.
6. The surgical site will be cleaned and disinfected.
7. 30 minutes before the surgery, you will be taken to the operating room.
Surgical procedure
The hip joint is exposed by a skin incision The acetabulum is prepared using a special instrument called a reamer. The new acetabular component will then be implanted into the acetabulum, where a bone cement bonding material is often used. A plastic or metal or ceramic component will be used in the gap of the acetabulum.
Femoral preparation: The femoral head of the arthritic patient is cut off and the femur is prepared using special instruments to conform to the new metal femoral component. The femoral component is then inserted into the femur. This depends on the quality of the patient’s bone and the operator’s habits.
The actual femoral component is then placed in the femoral neck. This can be made of metal or ceramic
The hip joint is reassembled and the muscles and soft tissues are sutured.
After surgery
You will wake up in the anesthesia resuscitation room and your vital your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, temperature, etc.) will be recorded and you will have a drain placed to drain the blood from the wound. Post-operative x-rays will be performed during resuscitation and once you are stable and awake you will return to your room. You will have an IV needle puncture or two in your arm, which will be explained to you by your anesthesiologist. On the day after surgery, your drain will usually be removed and you can sit from bed or walk depending on your surgeon’s preference. Pain is normal, but if you are in a lot of pain, notify your nurse. You can be fully weight-bearing and your physical therapist will help you with post-operative recovery exercises. You will be discharged home or recuperate in a rehabilitation hospital for about 5 – 7 days, which will be determined by your pain situation. The sutures are usually absorbable and if they are non-absorbable, they will be removed after about 14 days. A post-operative visit will be scheduled prior to your discharge to see how you are doing overall after the surgery.
Precautions after surgery: Remember that this is an artificial joint and must be well cared for. Avoid heavy physical activity as this can cause the possibility of unnecessary complications.
Avoid dislocation after surgery should be noted as follows.
1.Pillows should be placed between the thighs during sleep for six weeks to avoid crossing the legs and bending the hip hip joint at a right angle.
2.Avoid using a chair in a low position.
3.Avoid bending over to pick up things.
4.Elevated toilets are helpful.
5.After the wound has healed, you can rub the wound with vitamin E or baby moisturizer.
6.If the wound is red and swollen, and the temperature is greater than 37.5℃, please call your doctor.
7.Your new hip may set off an alarm in the airport metal detector.
Risks and complications
With any major surgery, there are potential risks. Decide to have the surgery because the advantages of surgery outweigh the potential disadvantages. It is important that you are informed of these risks before surgery. Complications can be systemic or specific to the hip, complications can include anesthetic complications and general complications, and can occur with almost any medical condition. The following are a few examples of the more common complications.
1, allergic reaction to drugs
2, Disease transmission due to blood loss for transfusion
3. Heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, pneumonia, bladder infection.
4.Nerve damage and nerve block.
5.Serious complications can lead to continuous hospitalization and death.
Special complications.
1, Infection Infection may occur in any operation. It can be superficial or deep in the gluteal region. The infection rate is about 1%, and if it occurs, antibiotics can be used, but further surgical treatment may be required. In rare cases your hip may need to be removed.
2. Dislocation Dislocation is the detachment of the replaced femoral head from the acetabulum. Taking preventive measures is the way to avoid this complication. When dislocation occurs, it needs to be reset under anesthesia. The chances of reoperation are low.
3. Deep vein thrombosis
Blood clots can form in the lower leg and travel with the blood to the lungs, which can occasionally be serious or even life-threatening. If you feel pain in your calf or have difficulty breathing at any stage after surgery, you should notify your surgeon promptly.
4. Neurovascular injury
Less frequently called complications, but can lead to muscle weakness and sensory loss, vascular damage that causes persistent bleeding should be repaired with a second surgery.
5.Wound irritation pain
Personal subjective, this condition will generally disappear slowly with the postoperative time, and will not have any greater impact on the new joint.
6.The lower limbs are not equal in length
It is difficult to make both lower limbs reach exactly the same length, sometimes due to the need for surgery and to keep the hip joint stable, the unequal length of both lower limbs can be corrected by simply the height of the shoe in.
7.Wear and tear
All artificial joints will eventually wear out. The more you use them, the faster they will wear out. Usually more than 90% of artificial joints can be used for more than 15-20 years.
8.Poor pain control
Very rare, but if the pain comes from the spine is a special case.
9, unsightly and thickened scars.
10.Mental stress and bed sores.
11.Muscle weakness.
12, Fracture of the femur or pelvis.
In summary: Surgery is not a pleasant procedure in itself, but for some patients suffering from arthritis, the difference between surgery and non-surgery may be the difference between living a normal life and constantly enduring the pain caused by the disease. Surgery can be considered part of a treatment plan that restores normal function to damaged joints and can reduce pain.