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Total Hip Replacement (Arthroplasty)

This page describes total hip replacement or total hip arthroplasty: The replacement of the hip joint by surgery.

Woman with her hand on her hip

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Metal on metal hip prosthesis

Introduction

Total hip replacement probably represents the most significant advance in orthopaedic surgery in the latter half of this century. It has alleviated the pain and improved the mobility of hundreds of thousands of patients crippled with arthritis of the hip. Today, more than 600,000 total hip replacements are carried out world–wide each year. Some 60,000 are performed annually in the United Kingdom and 150,000 in the United States of America.

The increased prevalence of hip replacement has been unhappily accompanied by an increased incidence of failure. Re–operation and revision of a failed replacement is a more complex procedure, with a higher risk of complication. We should, therefore, do everything possible to minimise the risk of failure.

Cemented and Cementless Prostheses (Implants)

There are two major types of artificial hip joint.

Metal hip implant.

Each prosthesis is made up of two parts: the acetabular component, a socket or cup which partly replaces the acetabulum and the femoral component, or stem, which replaces the femoral head and part of the femoral neck.

The outer aspect of the metal shell is designed so that living bone will adhere to an irregular, porous, mesh or beaded surface.

The inner liner acts as the bearing surface which may be made of different materials such as ceramic, metal or plastic.

The type of plastic used is very tough, highly crossed linked polyethylene and the wear properties are superior to conventional polyethylene. Metal on metal or ceramic on ceramic bearing surfaces may also be used as an alternative. These bearing surfaces are exceptionally smooth and have a low coefficient of friction. The frictional forces are dependant on the surface roughness and the chemical composition of the material. The technological advances in bearing materials have already reduced wear, which should result in an increased longevity of the hip joint.

The femoral component is made up of a metal stem with a metal or ceramic ball which is inserted on a morse taper at the top of the stem. A cemented prosthesis is held in place by a type of acrylic cement that acts as a grout, filling the bone marrow space between the metal stem and the bone. A cementless prosthesis has a fine mesh, beaded or porous surface area which abuts against living bone.

In the cemented variety, a special self–curing cement is used to fix the acetabular component to the bone. In the cementless variety of artificial hip, the metal shell is simply held in place by the tightness of the fit, or with screws. An inner liner is then inserted into the outer metal shell.

Indications

There are no absolute indications for total hip replacement and the final decision always remains with the patient. The surgeon can assist by advising the patient of the implications and expectations and possible complications.

What then are the factors that will influence the decision when to operate on an arthritic hip?

Pain and loss of function are two of the most important aspects.

Pain

Pain is a subjective symptom and is very difficult to quantify. Different people have different pain thresholds. The perception of pain in any one individual will vary with his or her general sense of well being. We often use a pain analogue scale to try and quantify pain but even this assessment can vary with the patient’s state of mind.

Since it is difficult to establish an absolute scale of pain one must respond to the patient’s own perception of pain. This is usually best reflected by the number of painkilling tablets or analgesics they take each day.

In some cases the decision is easy. The pain may be so severe that the patient can hardly walk or is frequently awakened at night. If this disruptive pain cannot be controlled by other measures surgery is clearly indicated.

Loss of function

Loss of function is the second major factor that needs to be assessed.

Once again there is no absolute guideline as this is a very individual interpretation based on the patient’s own expectations of mobility and function. For convenience the surgeon will record the ability to put on socks, cut toe nails, go up and down stairs, get in and out of a car etc. as a measure of function. These do assess loss of movement but do not reflect the extent to which the patient’s quality of life is compromised by their limitations.

The assessment of pain and loss of function is a very relative and individual assessment. It is thus the extent to which expectations in life are compromised by the disability of an arthritic hip which will determine the need for surgery.

Implants for younger patients

The age at which a patient qualifies for a total hip replacement will present another contentious issue. Previously the procedure was reserved for elderly patients. We know that over 80% of implants will survive 20 years or more in the elderly. The same is not true when new hips are inserted into younger patients. The increased incidence of early failure in this young group can probably be ascribed to a much higher activity profile.

Arthritis in younger and older patients

Most younger patients with severe arthritis of the hip demand a joint that is near normal. They are not prepared to accept alternatives which involve major surgical procedures but which will provide unpredictable results. In discussing the options with the younger patient one must allow for at least one revision in the future if total hip replacement is recommended. However at the time of presentation the patient is often fully involved in family and professional life. These are the golden years when he or she requires full function.

When several joints are involved and the disease is crippling even youth is no contra–indication to a total hip replacement. Multiple joint replacement in juvenile chronic arthritis may result in a teenager being confined to a bed or a wheelchair. This dependence on other people is demoralising and depressing. Multiple joint replacement may only provide limited mobility but it will result in an enormous improvement in the quality of life.

Adult patients with inflammatory arthritis also often have multiple joints involved. They learn to live and function with a surprising degree of deformity and disability. In this setting they are able to define the main problem area and identify the loss of function, which to them represents unacceptable disability.

Therefore each patient’s requirements need to be carefully assessed on their own merits and it is the patient who makes the final decision.

Contraindications

Surgical Approaches

There are four approaches to the hip and access takes advantage of the muscular planes surrounding the hip joint.

Anterior (front) Approach
The anterior approach has been revitalized for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) — a procedure that Evert Smith specialises in that can significantly reduce recovery time — when performing a total hip replacement.
Lateral (side) Approaches
The anterolateral approach is the most commonly used approach for total hip replacements.
The direct lateral approach exposes the hip joint by detaching the upper end of the thigh bone (the greater trochanter).
Posterior (rear) Approach
The posterior approach is the second most common approach when performing a total hip replacement.

Surgical Technique

Once you have been anaesthetised and positioned on the operating table the skin is cleaned and the surgical site is draped. Surgery begins with an incision over the hip joint. There are several different approaches which may be used by the surgeon when approaching the hip joint. Next the ligaments and muscles are separated to allow the surgeon access to the bones of the hip joint.

After the hip joint has been entered the femoral head is dislocated from the acetabulum. The femoral head is then removed by cutting through the femoral neck with a power saw.

The exposed socket is cleared of bone debris and cartilage by using a powerful drill and special reamer. The reamer shapes the bone into a hemi–spherical shape to exactly fit the metal shell of the acetabular component. The exposed socket is thoroughly cleaned and dried. A trial acetabular component, which is the exact duplicate of your hip prosthesis, is used to ensure that the joint you receive will be the right size and fit for you. Once this has been determined the acetabular component is inserted into place.

To begin replacing the femoral head special rasps are used to shape and hollow out the femur to the exact shape of the metal stem of the femoral component. A trial femoral component shaft is placed in the marrow canal down the centre of the femur and checked for correct fit. The trial hip reconstruction is checked for range of motion, muscle tension and stability. The length of the neck of the femoral component can be altered to make sure that the leg lengths are equivalent. Every effort is made to maintain equivalent leg lengths. The range of hip movement can be tested. Once the correctly sized implant has been determined the actual implant is inserted and fixed to the femur.

In the cemented variety the femoral canal is rasped to a size slightly larger than the femoral stem, then the acrylic cement is used to bond the metal stem to the bone.

In the cementless variety of femoral component the stem is held in place by the tightness of the fit into the bone (similar to the friction that holds a nail driven into a hole drilled into a wooden board with a slightly smaller diameter than the nail). The definitive femoral head is attached to the femoral stem and is relocated into the acetabular socket. The muscles, ligaments and skin are closed and the incision is covered with a sterile dressing.

Possible Complications

Recovery

The first day most patients will have had their intravenous drip removed.

The physiotherapist will see you after surgery and from then on begin with muscle strengthening and stretching exercises. You will be taught the safe way of getting in and out of bed.

You will learn how to use a support by the physiotherapist and you will be encouraged to take exercise on a regular basis. By the time of discharge from around 3 to 7 days you will be able to perform all activities unassisted.

You will be able to go home in a car and it may be best to have some help when you return home.

Walking is good for your resurfacing hip replacement and excellent exercise. Non–impact sports are advisable and these include swimming, cycling and golf. Your functional ability will improve rapidly week by week until you are able to drive a car at 6 weeks.

Appointments

To make an appointment e–mail Sue Misir, secretary to Mr Evert Smith, or telephone:

  • 0117 980 4027 (private)
  • 0117 980 4027 (NHS)

For an NHS appointment your GP will need to refer you. How?

Clinic locations and directions

Evert Smith is an Orthopaedic Surgeon in whom I have absolute faith and confidence.

Bob Gibbons, 2007.

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