Basics of Surgery for Arthritis.

Hip surgery

High success rate

Severe arthritis of the hips can cause constant pain and make it very difficult to sit or walk. Improvements in surgery have enabled many people to function with less pain and better mobility.

The success rate for hip replacement surgery is 95 percent for the first five to 10 years in osteoarthritis and almost as high in rheumatoid arthritis.

Hip replacement components

There are two types of components used for joint replacement: one is held in place by cementing the component to bone, and the other has a porous metal or chemical coating that does not require cement. The condition of the bones and the age of the person are both considered to be very important when deciding which type of component will be the best.

The cementless porous metal replacement parts have a "bumpy" appearance. After the replacement parts have been implanted, new bone grows between and around the "bumps." This locks the new hip in place and does away with the need for cement. Because these replacement parts are fairly new, they have not been tested long enough to tell if they are better than the cemented type. Cementless porous-coated total joint replacement cannot be used in some instances.

Most components that are held in place with cement begin to loosen at some time, usually after 10 years or so. This occurs because tissue grows in between the cement and the bone, causing the replacement to loosen. Surgery can be repeated for people who need their first replacement removed.

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