Basics of Surgery for Arthritis.
Last updated Thursday, December 30, 2004
Hip surgeryCan sugery help a hip with arthritis? 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. What are the components used in hip replacement surgery for arthritis? 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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