Hip Surgery
Hip surgery is commonly performed to alleviate hip pain or repair damage caused by arthritis, sports injuries or other hip conditions.
Surgical procedures, including hip resurfacing and the direct anterior approach to hip replacement, are considered good options for treating hip pain when conservative pain treatments like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), pain management injections, and physical therapy have failed to sufficiently alleviate hip joint pain.
Regardless of the treatment solution chosen, the orthopedic surgeons at the Joint Replacement Institute of Naples, Florida, will make sure you are entirely comfortable with the procedure.
Considered a large ball-and-socket joint, the hip is made up of two main bones:
- The “ball” at the top of the femur (thigh bone)
- The “socket” cavity of the pelvis (the acetabulum)
The femoral head fits snuggly within the acetabulum and is secured with muscles and ligaments. The hip is a strong weight-bearing joint that allows a wide range of motion. Hip surgeries typically involve addressing these components of the joint.
Common Types of Hip Surgeries
Some of the most-often-performed hip surgeries include:
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that uses a flexible tube through which tiny instruments (along with a light and camera) are used to diagnose and treat certain conditions. Hip arthroscopy, commonly called a “hip scope,” may be used to address:
- Hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI)
- Infection or inflammation of the hip joint
- Labral tears
- Loose pieces of bone or cartilage
- Recurrent hip dislocations, as can occur with dysplasia
- Snapping hip syndrome
Total hip replacements are extremely common and have been successfully performed in the U.S. for more than 50 years. It is one of the safest surgeries performed today.
During total hip replacement surgery, your surgeon will clean the hip socket and remove any pieces of bone or cartilage damaged by arthritis. Typically, a plastic cup is placed in the hip socket, now large enough to hold the prosthetic component.
The top of the femur is cut and replaced with a metal ball, held in place by a metal stem that runs down the femoral neck. This metal ball acts as the femur’s new head and fits securely inside the artificial socket, allowing the joint to function just like a natural hip joint.
Hip implants, on average, last 20+ years and can significantly improve your quality of life by allowing for a return to your previous levels of activity, but this time without pain.
The direct anterior approach (DAA) to hip replacement surgery utilizes minimally invasive surgical techniques that can get you moving quicker after surgery, significantly reducing your recovery time.
During a direct anterior hip replacement procedure, an incision is made at the front of the hip, allowing your surgeon to work around muscles, tendons, and other soft tissue at the joint, instead of having to cut through them.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. H. Kurtis Biggs of the Joint Replacement Institute specializes in hip replacements – especially this muscle-sparing approach. He can tell you if you are a good candidate for a direct anterior hip replacement.
Hip resurfacing is considered a surgical alternative to a total hip replacement. It is recommended for patients under the age of 60, with a larger build and strong bones. This reduces the risk of fracturing the femur neck.
Rather than replacing the ball atop the femur (as is done in a total hip replacement), hip resurfacing involves trimming the femoral head and surgically cementing a prosthetic metal cap over the prepared ball.
The damaged portion of the pelvic socket is replaced with a metal prosthesis, as well, allowing the two components to glide easily against each together.
This surgery may be recommended for patients with an otherwise healthy pelvic bone, with intact cartilage lining its “socket.”
That’s because, in a partial hip replacement – also called a hemiarthroplasty – only the ball at the top of the femur is replaced with a prosthesis.
Hip Replacement Surgery in Naples, FL
If you require hip surgery, rest assured you are in good hands. Dr. H. Kurtis Biggs is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hip joint replacement. He has performed thousands of these surgeries, successfully alleviating hip pain for his patients. Call the Joint Replacement Institute in Naples, Florida, at (239) 261-2663 to find out how hip surgery can help you. You can also request an appointment now.
