Hip Prostheses in Panama
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Have you ever wondered if you need a hip replacement? This treatment may be an effective solution for some patients who maintain a limiting condition in this joint.
Continue reading this article to discover all the details of this surgery, so you can know if it is ideal for you or not.
What is a hip replacement?
Hip surgery is a surgical procedure that involves removing a worn or diseased hip to replace it with an artificial joint. Like any major intervention, the use of anesthesia is necessary
This procedure is used in patients who no longer work other methods such as rehabilitation, rest or taking anti-inflammatory drugs. The implementation of a hip prosthesis that simulates the action exerted by the cartilage of the joint relieves pain and improves mobility in patients almost immediately.
Types of hip prostheses
The type of prosthesis to be used will depend on the criteria of the treating orthopedic doctor since there are multiple factors such as the age of the patient, the quality of their bone structure, as well as the precedent of previous surgeries and the type of pathology that the patient presents.
Several types of procedures are often used in the artificial hip joint implant
Partial hip replacement: This procedure is used to replace the head of the femur. This helps make the surgery a less invasive replacement.
Total hip replacement: An orthopedic intervention also known as "total hip arthroplasty" consists of completely replacing the damaged joint. It is usually used when the patient suffers from joint wear or osteoarthritis.
Revision prostheses: It is the procedure that is usually done to replace an existing prosthesis. The surgeon refers it in cases when once the original prosthesis is placed, it wears, loosens or becomes infected.
Resurfacing prostheses: This prosthesis was designed for young patients who have a healthy bone constitution, however, due to their average lifespan, they may have to face several surgeries or revisions of the prostheses to be replaced. This method has presented durability issues. That is why today, it is common for Orthopedists to use total prostheses but with shorter stems than usual.
You can trust Dr. José Felix Castillo for hip prostheses
What materials are hip prostheses made of?
There are different types of materials for the manufacture of hip prostheses, the selection of them will be subject to the recommendation of the orthopedic surgeon and will depend on the reputation of the manufacturing companies in order to meet the patient’s concern, in terms of durability and strength.
In the case of metal utensils, manufacturing companies use stainless steel, as well as metal alloys such as copper and cobalt. For femoral stems it is common to use titanium alloys. While polymers or ceramics are usually used for the manufacture of the cup or insert, the most commonly used being polyethylene.
There are cases in which the use of porous coatings is required to fix the prosthesis to the bone, such as Hydroxyapatite.
Everything will depend on the function to be replaced in the patient. The ideal materials for the manufacture of artificial hip implants must meet certain fundamental requirements such as:
That they are biocompatible with the body, so that they do not generate unfavorable reactions such as osteolysis, a disease that can cause alterations at the anatomical level and sequelae at the functional level in patients who must undergo hip replacement.
That they are resistant to use and abuse, this is being fulfilled every day given the effectiveness especially in active young people where their effectiveness and prolonged duration have been proven, due to the quality of the materials with which they are made.
Brands that manufacture hip prostheses
Manufacturing companies are always at the forefront of technology as well as in the innovation of orthoprosthetic components to improve the quality of life of people suffering from a musculoskeletal anatomical disorder. They are specialists and their main objective is the design and manufacture of artificial implants, with specialized and highly qualified personnel for this purpose.
Smith and Nephew Hip Prosthesis
It is a prestigious company in the health area, which has been manufacturing medical supplies for more than a decade. Famous for the introduction to the market of an alloy, patented and made available for the implantation of hip prostheses, OXINIUN, a metal alloy transformed into ceramic, which has proven to be the ideal component for the manufacture of hip prostheses that is more resistant than the cobalt-lead alloy.
Johnson & Johnson Hip Prosthesis
This is a company with leadership and presence worldwide, it has been recognized for the total hip replacement prosthesis “ACTIS” which includes in the manufacture of its artificial implants a support collar with Hydroxyapatite coating.
Zimmer hip prosthesis
It is manufactured by this world-leading healthcare company, dedicated to marketing very complex implants whose main objective is to provide orthopaedic solutions.
Austin Moore Hip Prosthesis
A prestigious company dedicated to the manufacture of orthopedic solutions for more than 100 years, it offers a prosthesis recognized by manufacturing standards worldwide.
Latest generation of hip prostheses
Thanks to technological advances in the manufacture of hip implants, we have successful results, especially in the replacement of this type of prosthesis, since it has generated satisfactory results in terms of improvement in quality of life, well-being of patients, as well as pain relief, rapid recovery being able to discharge more quickly, in more and more patients who have undergone surgery.
Limitation for the use of hip prostheses: Is there really one?
One of the most frequent concerns in patients when needing hip replacement surgery is whether there are postoperative limitations.
Precaution should be focused on those involuntary movements not allowed after the operation, it is advisable to follow the indications of the orthopedic specialist, to avoid these movements that can cause risk of dislocation.
It is not necessary to exaggerate with the precautions, but it is necessary to take care of yourself after surgery
After the patient has recovered from the intervention, there are high-risk sports for hip replacement patients that should be avoided, due to the high impact on the body anatomy such as soccer, skiing, among others, however, walking, swimming, playing golf are sports considered low impact and contribute to maintaining good overall health.
Frequently asked questions
When do I need to place a hip replacement?
They are recommended for patients in whom there is considerable restriction to walk, limiting their usual mobility, inability to perform daily tasks, such as personal hygiene to mention a few.
They are mainly suggested in patients who suffer from severe or chronic osteoarthritis or have undergone other treatments without success.
How long does a hip prosthesis last?
The answer to this question will depend on several factors such as:
- The quality of the implant chosen, as this could define wear to a greater or lesser extent.
- The patient’s ability to recover from surgery depending on their physical constitution.
- Age could also be another factor, since the prosthesis is not the same in a patient aged 50 and over, whose mobility is minimal, as in a young patient who takes risks doing sports and with 100% mobility.
- Surgery is another factor, that the implant is well placed, avoiding the risk of dislocation, wear of the prosthesis and rejection of the implanted joint.
Rehabilitation time when placing a hip replacement.
The rehabilitation time ranges from approximately 3 to 4 months. This begins with the patient being able to support his or her weight.
The patient’s ambulation will be the first 4 to 8 days, assuming the patient is able to support his or her own weight and maintain balance, then within 10 to 15 days the patient may be able to climb stairs.
One of the keys to a speedy recovery should be the motivation to exercise and the effort to achieve the recovery of their mobility, it is ideal that the patient walks in short periods, but that they are several times a day.
Can my body reject hip replacement?
Nowadays, hip replacement surgery is one of the most unequivocal and least invasive procedures, due to technological advances in recent years.
Can I use hip and knee prostheses at the same time?
If necessary, it is possible, however, it will be essential for the patient to have a good bone anatomy, to ensure that the artificial implants are sufficiently fixed.
If the surgery goes as expected, that is, that the prostheses are correctly aligned in the procedure, it will always be worth correcting any other joint and mobility problems to improve the quality of life of those who require it.
