What is hip replacement surgery?
Hip replacement surgery is referred to as a process in which doctors, with the help of surgery, remove a painful hip joint affected with arthritis and then replace it with plastic and metal components. This procedure is generally preferred when all other means to provide relief to the joint have failed. This procedure helps individuals to walk easily.
What happens during the surgery procedure?
This surgery can be performed using traditional methods or using a minimally-invasive technique. The major difference between these two procedures is the incision size. While performing the standard surgery, general anesthesia is given to relax patient’s muscles which puts the patient in deep sleep temporarily. Anesthesia helps to prevent the feeling of the pain while the surgery is being conducted.
The doctor will cut along the hip side and then move the muscles which are connected to the thighbone top to expose the ted hip joint. Then, the ball portion is removed with the help of saw. After that, an artificial joint is attached or fitted to the thighbone using a special material or cement that allows the remaining part of the bone to attach to the newly formed joint.
Then the surface of the hipbone is prepared by the doctor be removing any kind of damaged cartilage. The doctor then attaches the new replacement socket portion to the hipbone. Then the thighbone’s new ball part is inserted into the socket of the hip. After this whole procedure, doctor closes the incision.
Most of the hip replacement surgeries are performed using standard form of technique in which only one cut of 8-10 inches long is done along the hip side. But some doctors also perform minimally-invasive technique in which doctors make 1-2 cuts of 2-5 inches long.
What happens after the surgery procedure?
Patient needs to stay in hospital for next 4-6 days for recovery. Physical therapy will be started a day after the surgery which will help you to walk with the walker afterwards. A drainage tube will be attached to the patient’s bladder, so that he/she can go to bathroom easily.
What precautions must be taken by a patient at home after surgery?
- Stair climbing must be avoided. If necessary, maximum of 1-2 times a day is fine but not more than that.
- Use of recliners must be avoided. Sitting in the upright position will decrease the pressure on the hip joint.
- Elevated toilet seat must be used. This will help you refrain from bending too much.
- Movement on slippery tiles or wet floors should be avoided as it may result in injury.
What is the cost of hip replacement surgery in India?
- Type of hip implant used in the procedure– It includes the special material with which the hip implant is created of and if any type of customized surgical instruments are used or not.
- Number of days a patient stays in a hospital– This depends upon patient’s health condition and type of surgery.
- Room type– This depends upon availability or preference.
- Pre-existing health conditions– A patient may have some additional health problems which may be aggravated after the surgery. This increases the cost as the patient needs to stay in hospital for more days for getting the problems checked and resolved.
Hip replacement cost in India can vary from 2.5 to 6 lakhs depending upon single or bilateral hip replacement surgery. This package includes surgeon’s fee, anaesthesia charges, operation theatre charges, surgery consumable charges, room or ICU charges, pharmacy, assistant fees, food, nursing services, and physiotherapy.