Hip Replacement

Overview

Orthopedic surgeons at Mayo Clinic work to find the most appropriate surgical treatment for patients who have severe hip pain and disorders. Mayo Clinic performs thousands of hip replacement surgeries each year, and more than 35,000 surgeries have been completed since the first total hip arthroplasty approved by the Food and Drug Administration was performed at Mayo in 1969.

The volume of hip replacement surgeries performed at Mayo has allowed researchers and physicians to compile the most comprehensive database on joint replacement in the world. This unique resource, containing details about every joint replacement surgery performed at Mayo since 1969, gives the treatment team information about different surgical techniques and implant types as well as patient demographics, conditions, and outcomes. This information helps surgeons customize surgical treatment to each patient's needs.

Evaluation

Mayo Clinic's multispecialty approach relies on the expertise of many departments and specialists to ensure that each patient receives quality care. A comprehensive evaluation, including medical history, a physical exam, X-rays and blood tests, helps physicians determine whether surgery is the best treatment option. Candidates for hip replacement surgery are generally healthy, have tried other treatment options, and experience chronic pain and limited mobility. Most are over age 50; however, due to stronger and longer-lasting prosthetic devices being developed, younger patients may be considered for this procedure.

Treatment Options

Mayo Clinic regularly treats patients who have a variety of hip complications using several surgical techniques. Although choosing the appropriate procedure is a very important aspect of hip replacement, many other factors influence the long-term success of surgical treatment. For instance, the type of anesthesia used can sometimes reduce postsurgical pain more so than the length of the incision made during surgery. The type of prosthesis used (for example, ceramic vs. metal-on-metal devices), the progress made during physical therapy and a healthy lifestyle contribute to recovery time and the patient's quality of life after surgery. In some cases, these factors are more important than the technique used to place the prosthesis. Read about hip replacement surgery techniques.

• Treatment in Arizona
• Treatment in Florida
• Treatment in Minnesota

About Hip Replacement

Most people considering total hip replacement surgery are experiencing severe pain, loss of motion or stiffness that interferes with daily activities. These problems are most often caused by osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the hip joint; however, a hip fracture, tumor or avascular necrosis (bone loss due to insufficient blood supply) may cause similar symptoms.

More than 193,000 total hip replacement surgeries are performed in the United States each year, with an overall success rate of more than 90 percent. Although total hip arthroplasty increases the range of motion and significantly reduces pain in the hip joint, this procedure is not a quick fix for every patient with chronic hip pain. In most cases, surgery is used only after medication and other, less-aggressive treatment options have failed.

Read more at
www.MayoClinic.com
A service of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research