Hip Replacement Techniques – New Techniques, Less Discomfort!

Several hundred thousand patients undergo hip replacement surgeries in hospitals every year. Recently, several new minimally invasive hip replacement techniques have come into the limelightfor hip implants. Most of these techniques emphasize on decreasing post-operative discomfort and quicker discharge from the hospital.

The traditional hip replacement technique requires a foot-long surgical incision along the hip to insert implants. Through this incision, the diseased bony parts of the hips are taken out and replaced with an artificial implant. As a result, patients need to be hospitalized for a period of one to two weeks following implant surgery. As those replacements of hips are often elderly, prolonged hospitalization also increases the chances of deep vein thrombosis.

Newer techniques of hip replacement require incisions of no more than five inches in length. Some techniques involve two small incisions, each measuring about two inches in length. There is no extensive cutting of the hip muscles, they are just reflected away from the path. This decreases the blood loss during the operation. Postoperative rehabilitation is also less discomforting. The minimally invasive hip replacements technique requires specialized training in the technique. These techniques also require special instruments to remove the diseased bony joint and put the artificial implant in place.

Hip replacements and implants done using mini-incision techniques help patients leave the hospital much earlier. In a study involving 300 hip replacements using these newer techniques, 80% of the operated patients were able to leave the hospital in 24 hours or less with pain free hips.

Also see; hip 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