Hip replacement: Improving your mobility and relieving pain

Hip replacement can help people with arthritis in the hip from wear and tear, hip dysplasia, rheumatoid arthritis, injury and avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue due to lack of blood supply). Your doctor may recommend a hip replacement if other treatments, such as medicines, walking aids or physical therapy do not reduce your pain and improve your mobility.

Once a treatment only for those over age 60, hip replacement also helps younger, active people.

Your doctor looks at your overall health and activity level to decide if hip replacement surgery is the best treatment for you.

Your doctor checks the level of wear and tear on your hip joint and the severity of your pain. If you cannot perform regular daily tasks and other treatments do not improve your pain, a replacement may be the right treatment for you.

UW Health orthopedic surgeons continue to evaluate and refine current and new methods of total hip replacement surgery. After an evaluation, a treatment recommendation is made based on your needs and condition. In hip replacement surgery, the hip can be reached through the side of the hip (posterolateral, anterolateral or lateral), the front of the leg (anterior) or through a combination of these. In some cases, robotic-assisted surgery is used. Some people may be able to have both (bilateral) hips replaced at the same time or have same-day (outpatient) hip replacement surgery and be back home the same day.

Our goal is to provide you with the care and support needed to get through your joint replacement and back to the things you love to do. A Total Joints Nurse Coordinator is available to ensure a smooth transition from surgery to recovery. We also encourage you to choose a family member or friend who can act as a personal support person or "coach" as you go through the joint replacement process.

Joints 101 is a pre-surgery class that gives you and your support person the opportunity to learn what to expect throughout the joint replacement process. You will get information to prepare for your joint replacement, learn what your rehabilitation will be like, meet other people going through joint replacement surgery and have an opportunity to get your questions answered. Your attendance is strongly encouraged.

Patients who are scheduled for surgery have access to this free online educational system that provides you and anyone you designate with information before and after surgery. TotalCare includes checklists and reminders to guide you through the joint replacement process, educational materials, informative videos and patient self-reports that provide your orthopedic team with feedback.

On your surgery day, your team meets you at the hospital. Once you are comfortable in the operating room, an anesthesiologist will put you to sleep so you do not feel pain during the procedure.

Your surgeon reaches your hip from the back or side of the hip or the front of the leg. Your hip replacement team may use minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery. Your doctor will decide the best approach before your surgery, based on your imaging and condition. 

During the procedure, your surgeon:

• Removes the diseased bone tissue and cartilage from your hip joint

• Replaces the ball of the hip (head of the femur) and the hip’s socket with new parts

The replacement parts include:

• A plastic cup that replaces your hip socket

• A metal ball that replaces your hip ball 

• A metal stem that attaches the new ball to your thigh bone

• Your new hip parts let the hip move in a natural, fluid manner.

 Depending on your surgery, you may spend a night or two in the hospital or go home the same day as your surgery.  You will begin physical therapy in the hospital. Your care team will explain precautions you need to follow as you heal, such as no heavy lifting and not crossing your knees or thighs. It will take six to eight weeks of physical therapy to fully recover after hip replacement.