Total Hip Arthroplasty – Mini Incision, Many Benefits!

Arthroplasty refers to a surgery done to repair the structural damage to a joint. The hip joint consists of two bony parts that are in contact with each other and produces movement at the hip. The integrity of the hip might be damaged by diseases such as osteoarthritis or by injury to the hip. Total hip arthroplasty replaces both the bony parts that come in contact at the hips through surgery, with artificial prostheses and re-establishes the integrity of the hip by artificial means.

Arthroplasty surgeries involving total replacement of the diseased or injured hip are usually done one hip at a time when both hips are damaged, but if necessary total hips arthroplasty on both the hips may be done at the same sitting. This gives the patient a pain free hip after the surgery. The arthroplasty surgery significantly improves the well-being of the patient by giving their hips back their mobility.

Mini-incision surgeries have gained in popularity over the last few decades and arthroplasty surgeries on the hip are no exceptions to the use of this technique. Normally a hip arthroplasty surgery uses an incision as long as twelve inches to approach the hip joint. In a mini-incision surgery, the length of the incision is reduced to a mere three to four inches, leaving a smaller scar.

Total arthroplasty surgeries done with the mini-incision method have many advantages. There is less tissue damage to the muscle, and consequently less bleeding and a faster recovery time from the surgery. This decreases the period of hospitalization. There is also a lesser risk of infection. Ideally, this surgery is performed on the non-obese patient, but obese individuals have benefited from mini-incision hip arthroplasty.

Also see; hip joint anatomy.

About The Author:

Dr. Bharat Sharma is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.hip-replacement-care.com. He has been working in the medical rehab field for more than a decade. Keeping up to date with techological advancements he has become a self appointe