Who Should Undergo a Hip Replacement Surgery?

A hip replacement surgery is usually recommended for patients when.
1. Hip pain is so severe that day to day activities are grossly limited.
2. Pain is present even during the resting state, be it night or day
3. Stiffness in the joint drastically limits your ability to even move your leg
4. Hip pain does not respond to conventional pain medications or physiotherapy.
In general recommendations for hip replacement surgery is based on patients general pain and disability, not necessarily the age.
Most patients undergo hip replacements from between 50 to 80 years of age in general.
In general there are numerous clinical conditions that can lead to chronic long standing hip pain. These are namely
1. Osteoarthritis: In this condition, there is an age related wear and tear of the joint surfaces. This condition usually occurs with increasing age and also in those with a family history of arthritis. In this condition there is a systematic wear and tear of the cartilage that surrounds the end of the bones that form the hip joint.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis: This condition is autoimmune in nature were the body attacks its own system. In this conditions, the synovial membrane can get thick leading to severe pain and stiffness.
3. Post traumatic Arthritis: In this condition, a past serious injury to the hip or a past fracture can damage the cartilage leading to chronic ling standing pain and stiffness over a long period of time. Moreover, in some injuries to the hip, a dislocation or fracture may affect the supply of blood to the femoral head. This is a condition called Avascular Necrosis. In this condition, the surface of the bones collapse leading to severe arthritis.
4. Hip Disease in Children: Sometimes, children suffer from hip problems. While these issues might have been treated during childhood, these children may continue to suffer from arthritis much later in life.