Hip Care

No, hip replacement surgery is not always the recommended treatment for hip pain. Hip care plans are based on a thorough diagnosis of the condition or injury and customized for each individual.

Some hip pain is treated with non-surgical methods like physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, medication, or injections. In other cases, a specialist may recommend minimally-invasive procedures such as hip arthroscopy, hip resurfacing, surgical dislocation, or osteotomy.

A total hip replacement is typically only done if mobility worsens and conservative treatments haven’t helped.

Hip resurfacing is a conservative artificial joint replacement in which the hip joint is relined instead of being completely replaced. The procedure restores hip functionality by replacing damaged bone and cartilage in the socket while preserving as much natural bone as possible. The femoral head is not removed in hip resurfacing but is instead trimmed and resurfaced with a smooth metal dome.

Hip resurfacing aims to provide greater mobility and improved quality of life, and can be a hip care alternative to traditional hip replacement for some eligible patients.

Hip arthroscopy is a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure performed by an experienced hip orthopedic surgeon who inserts a tiny camera into the joint and uses specialized tools to treat cartilage tears, hip impingement, tendon tears, or bursitis.

Because this hip care procedure is minimally invasive, the surgeon can resolve the issue without making a large incision, which means less postoperative pain, faster recovery, and a shorter hospital stay.

Hip arthroscopy is performed to help restore the hip’s function and relieve pain. The surgery typically takes about two hours or less and has a success rate of about 85% to 90%.

Total hip replacement surgery is a commonly performed surgical procedure used to treat hip arthritis when movement is restricted and non-surgical treatments haven’t helped to improve mobility or reduce pain.

During this hip care procedure, the damaged hip joint is replaced with implants that recreate the ball and socket of a healthy hip.

The types of arthritis treated by a total hip replacement include arthritis caused by wear and tear (osteoarthritis), inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis), and traumatically-induced arthritis.

With inpatient joint replacement, patients are admitted to the hospital to stay overnight (or longer) as they recover from surgery. This option allows them to be closely monitored by their hip care team.

Outpatient joint replacement—also known as “same-day surgery”—does not require hospitalization. This option allows the patient to receive joint replacement surgery in an ambulatory surgical center and return home in under 24 hours.

The benefits of outpatient total hip replacement surgery are lower out-of-pocket costs and a lower risk of postoperative infection. While it can be a safe and effective treatment option, outpatient joint replacement is not recommended for every patient. Talk to the hip care specialists at IBJI to determine if you are a candidate.

Most people will be able to resume light household activities within four to six weeks after total hip replacement surgery.

Return to all normal activities usually occurs after about two to three months, and complete recovery takes about six to twelve months following surgery.

Once you heal and recover from total hip replacement surgery, you can enjoy low-impact activities such as walking, hiking, swimming, cycling, and golf.

High-impact activities like basketball, volleyball, and long-distance running are not advised. If you have questions about specific activities, contact your IBJI hip care team.