Am I too young for Total hip replacement surgery & What are risks of delaying hip replacement surgery ?
With the advancement of technology, effective surgical procedures and availability of superior implants, hip replacement surgery has become a primary solution for both old and young patients. It’s indicated in patients with severe hip joint pain due to Avascular necrosis (AVN), ankylosing spondylitis (AS),Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) or any other problem leading to arthritis of hip joint.
Despite so many benefits, patients tend to delay Total hip replacement (THR) surgery due to multiple
Reasons like fear of failure of surgery, thinking they are too Young to undergo the surgery , presuming that recovery period after the surgery is too long, fear of not getting a desired outcome, limb length inequality after the surgery & many such myths regarding this highly successful operation. We have a must watch video on our channel to clear all these doubts
Although the ultimate decision on when to do total hip replacement surgery lies with the patient, nonetheless it’s highly recommended to consult an expert surgeon & to follow only professional and scientific advice.
Unless the patient is at an advanced stage of hip joint disease or disorder, doctors generally treat the condition with non-surgical methods. But when the non operative treatments fail to relieve the pain, doctors recommend Total hip replacement surgery. Yes it’s true, delaying surgery for a few weeks or months may not cause many problems but prolonged delay can lead to severe damage to the muscles and bones of the hip joint.
An important question that arises in mind of patients about the hip replacement is the right age to undergo this surgery. Patients often delay surgery if they are young. With advent of advanced surgical techniques, with usage of most modern uncemented hip implants & by doing good balancing of hip, the surgery may last for 20 to 25 years and in some cases even more. Read the following scientific article, by Evans et al published in 2019, for understanding it in details
Now let’s clear these myths one by one & find out about problems associated with delaying hip replacement surgery
Deformities around hip joint– over a long period of time patients tend to develop deformities like flexion deformity or external rotation deformity or hip joint fusion with complex deformities (in Ankylosing spondylitis patients). These can lead to shortening of the leg & significant limp while walking. In such cases, delaying hip replacement surgery may worsen the deformity making hip replacement surgery more complex. Eventually, such patients may require special implants for reconstructing their hip joint and there recovery periods may also be longer than usual. See this video
Mobility Issues and Stiffness – Patients with hip joint pain and related problems often have limited mobility, & physical activity which further increases stiffness and makes body movements even harder. Patient’s Pre operative range of motion (ROM) and joint flexibility plays a big role in the range of motion they achieve after total hip replacement surgery. Therefore, delaying the replacement surgery can affect freedom of movement a patient gets after the surgery.
Weak Muscles and Tissues – The sedentary lifestyle of patients with hip pain leads to weak muscles and tissues around the hip region. The muscles lose the strength, & elasticity and it can negatively affect recovery after hip replacement surgery. These patients usually require longer physiotherapy sessions to get back to normal muscle power and elasticity.
Other Health Problems – There are several compensatory health problems that may arise from delayed hip replacement surgery. For example, patients may have pain in their knee joint, & lower back. This is due to walking in an abnormal fashion & due to abnormal pressures on the adjacent joints. Many patients experience such compensatory health problems. If total hip replacement surgery is performed in time, then patients recover faster & these problems can be largely avoided.
Total Hip Replacement (THR) Surgery in Delhi
If you are in need of hip replacement surgery, consult Dr. Pankaj Walecha, one of the leading, experienced and highly-qualified hip replacement surgeons in Delhi with a great track record of successfully performing more than 3000 joint replacement surgeries in patients from all across India, Bangladesh, Nepal and from many countries in African continent. He performs hip replacement surgery using modern technology, best surgical techniques & has a highly efficient team to take care of patients through out this journey.
Visit The Waleus Clinic today. For more details, contact us