Hip or hip bone injuries can be healed, but the treatment plans are quite invasive surgeries done by qualified orthopedic surgeons and they may take time to heal. Here is everything you need to know about hip replacement and hip resurfacing and which one is better for you.

Hip Replacement Surgery

You might have heard all about hip replacement surgeries. It is known to be one of the most invasive bone-healing surgeries. In this surgery, the femoral head is removed completely and a prosthetic is inserted in order to keep your hip bone intact and also allow for better movement.

Because of this huge removal, it can be quite hard for patients to heal, and sometimes, it can lead to people having a more sedentary lifestyle, because the pain can be a lot and they have to be careful not to move around or put too much stress on the body, otherwise things can take a turn for the worse.

How Is A Hip Replacement Surgery Done?

Here is the run-down of what happens in a total hip replacement surgery:

It is done under anesthesia and the surgery takes a long time to be completed.

Your hip joint consists of two parts; the ball and the socket. The ball moves inside the hollow socket and this is how you move your hips, in general.

The ball is the main target of injuries. It can be cracked, fractured, or it can be totally dislodged from the socket and this can lead to a lot of pain and difficulty in moving. This is why the ball of the hip joint, also known as the femoral head, is removed from the body completely and a prosthetic takes its place.

Eligibility For A Hip Replacement Surgery

This surgery is done with a lot of protocol. You need to be healthy prior to the surgery, which means having no history of kidney disease, heart issues, or blood clotting, otherwise, you are not a good candidate for this surgery. And you might have to consider getting a hip resurfacing since it’s not nearly as invasive as hip replacement surgery.

Hip Resurfacing

Hip resurfacing can’t be done by the same doctors who perform hip replacement surgeries on patients. It requires technique and an extra certification from the medical board in order to be legit.

In the hip resurfacing procedure, the femoral head is not removed. Rather, it is shaved down to make it more spherical and round at the top. Then, a metal cap is lodged on the shaved femoral head and the whole thing is wedged in the socket. This is quite less invasive and less painful than a hip replacement surgery because there are no deep cuts, long healing time, and more. You will be more active after the surgery and you can resume normal life activities like before and nothing will be restricted.

How Is Hip Resurfacing Done?

Here is what happens in a hip resurfacing:

It is also done under anesthesia but the procedure is far less time-consuming than hip replacement surgery. It takes about half the time if not less than hip replacement surgery.

The ball of the hip joint is shaved down and shaped into a more round shape and it is made more pegged in order to attach a metal cap on the top of the shaved head. Once this contraption is made, it can be slid into the socket and you are good to go.

It allows for free movement of the hips and you can do more strenuous activities post-surgery. Things like climbing, hiking, martial arts, etc. are normal to resume after a hip resurfacing.

Eligibility For Hip Resurfacing

This procedure is done on patients which are not eligible candidates for hip replacement surgery, especially if they have underlying health issues. The protocol for hip resurfacing is pretty lenient and you don’t need to do a whole lot of blood tests and body scans to be eligible for this procedure. This procedure is perfect for people suffering from kidney diseases or heart diseases because this procedure doesn’t affect the body adversely.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the type of procedure you choose wholly depends on the severity of the injury, what needs to be fully healed, and the treatment option your orthopedic hip surgeon Woodbridge suggests.