Types of Hip Surgery

Hip pain can be debilitating, but you don’t have to suffer! Hip pain affects your ability to walk, move, and enjoy daily life. For many people, hip replacement surgery restores mobility and offers lasting relief from discomfort. With many types of hip surgery available, it’s essential to understand which one is best suited for you. This guide walks you through ten of the most common types of hip surgery, including when they are recommended and what they treat,  and will help you make an informed decision.

When to Consider Hip Surgery

In most cases, doctors recommend fully exploring nonsurgical treatments before surgery. Common options include physical therapy, medication, or lifestyle changes to reduce hip strain. But when conservative treatments don’t work, surgery becomes a serious option.

Some common signs that it might be time to consider hip surgery include:

  • Chronic hip pain: Persistent pain that doesn’t respond to medication or other treatments.
  • Limited mobility: Difficulty walking, standing, or performing daily activities.
  • Decreased quality of life: Pain and immobility significantly affect your work, hobbies, or personal life.
  • Bone damage: If imaging shows deterioration or deformities in the hip joint.
  • Full exploration of conservative treatments: Nonsurgical treatments like injections or physical therapy no longer provide relief.

If these symptoms are severe and impact your daily life, your doctor may suggest hip replacement surgery.

10 Common Types of Hip Surgery

There are several approaches to and types of hip surgery, each designed to meet specific needs depending on the patient’s condition, age, activity level, and overall health. Here’s a look at the most commonly performed types of hip surgery.

1. Total Hip Replacement (THR)

  • What it treats: Severe osteoarthritis of the hip, fractures, or hip joint degeneration.
  • Best for: Patients with end-stage arthritis or those who have not responded to other treatments.

In a total hip replacement, the damaged bone and cartilage are removed and replaced with prosthetic components: a metal or ceramic ball to replace the femoral head and a plastic or ceramic cup to replace the socket. THR is the most common type of hip replacement surgery, offering long-term relief for patients suffering from severe hip damage.

2. Partial Hip Replacement (Hemiarthroplasty)

  • What it treats: Hip fractures or damage to the femoral head only.
  • Best for: Elderly patients or those with minimal joint damage.

Partial hip replacement surgery involves replacing only the femoral head (the ball portion of the joint) while leaving the socket intact. It’s often used to treat hip fractures in older adults when the acetabulum (hip socket) is still in good condition.

3. Hip Resurfacing

  • What it treats: Early-stage arthritis or damage in younger, more active patients.
  • Best for: Younger individuals with strong, healthy bone density.

Unlike total hip replacement, hip resurfacing preserves more of the patient’s bone. Instead of removing the femoral head, it is reshaped and capped with a metal covering, while the damaged cartilage in the socket is replaced with a metal cup. This procedure allows for greater preservation of natural bone and is often chosen by younger, more active patients.

Our skilled surgeons use an approach known as Birmingham Hip Resurfacing. In this procedure, the surgeon will only replace the damaged portions. This option lasts longer than a traditional hip replacement and is ideal for people with an active lifestyle.

4. Anterior Approach Hip Replacement

  • What it treats: Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or hip fractures.
  • Best for: Patients looking for a quicker recovery and less postoperative pain.

The anterior approach to hip replacement surgery involves making the incision at the front of the hip. This method allows the surgeon to avoid cutting major muscles, leading to a faster recovery, less pain, and a reduced risk of hip dislocation after surgery. This type of hip surgery is particularly appealing for active individuals seeking a faster return to daily activities.

5. Posterior Approach Hip Replacement

  • What it treats: Advanced arthritis or severe hip joint damage.
  • Best for: Patients with severe damage who may need more extensive joint repair.

The posterior approach, the traditional method for hip replacement surgery, involves making an incision at the back of the hip. Though this method involves cutting through more muscle, it provides the surgeon with a better view of the hip joint. While recovery may be slightly longer, this approach remains widely used, especially for more complicated cases.

6. Lateral Approach Hip Replacement

  • What it treats: Hip arthritis and joint degeneration.
  • Best for: Patients with severe hip deformities or muscular issues.

In a lateral (or anterolateral) approach, the surgeon makes an incision along the side of the hip. This type of hip surgery can provide a more stable hip joint after surgery, though it may also involve a longer recovery period due to muscle cutting.

7. Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement

  • What it treats: Early to mid-stage osteoarthritis.
  • Best for: Patients who qualify for a less invasive procedure with smaller incisions.

Minimally invasive hip replacement uses smaller incisions than traditional surgery, which can result in less tissue damage, reduced pain, and faster recovery times. The key benefit is the preservation of healthier muscle tissue, making it an excellent option for younger or more active patients with moderate hip damage.

8. Bilateral Hip Replacement

  • What it treats: Severe arthritis or damage in both hips.
  • Best for: Patients who require both hips to be replaced, either simultaneously or in two surgeries.

Bilateral hip replacement surgery is designed for those with significant damage to both hips. It can be done in one surgery, known as simultaneous bilateral replacement, or two separate surgeries, known as staged bilateral replacement. While recovery may be more challenging, this approach can significantly improve mobility and quality of life for patients with bilateral hip issues.

9. Revision Hip Replacement

  • What it treats: Failed previous hip replacement surgeries, infection, or prosthetic wear.
  • Best for: Patients experiencing complications or prosthetic wear from a previous hip replacement.

Revision surgery is performed when an initial hip replacement wears out, loosens, or causes pain. Over time, artificial hip joints can fail due to wear and tear, or complications such as infection may arise. This type of hip surgery involves removing the old prosthetic components and replacing them with new ones, often more complex due to the degraded bone structure.

10. Cemented Versus Uncemented Hip Replacement

  • What it treats: Hip joint degeneration due to arthritis or injury.
  • Best for: Different patients based on bone quality and health.

In cemented hip replacement, a special bone cement is used to hold the prosthetic components in place. This method is often preferred for older patients with weaker bones. Uncemented hip replacements, in contrast, rely on the patient’s bone growing around the prosthesis to secure it, making it a better option for younger, more active individuals with strong bones.

Finding Lasting Relief from Hip Pain

Whether you’re dealing with arthritis, a fracture, or bursitis, there are options to address your needs. Always consult with your orthopedic surgeon to discuss which hip replacement surgery is most suitable for your condition and lifestyle. With the right procedure, you can look forward to moving freely and living a pain-free life once again. Talk to one of our physicians who specializes in hip treatments to learn about your options.

At The Orthopedic Clinic, we believe that orthopedics is about treating individual patients, not just the condition. Our dedicated, expert team works to take your lifestyle and health goals into account before recommending a treatment plan. If you have fully explored nonsurgical options for your hip pain, the highly skilled surgeons at The Orthopedic Clinic are here to help you live an active life. Contact us today to learn more.

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