Total hip replacement surgery cost and causes

What is total hip replacement
A hip replacement is type of surgery whereby the patient cartilage and damaged hip joint is replaced with a new artificial material. The hips carries one of the largest joints and they are connected to the body with a joint known as “socket and ball joint”. Hip replacement surgery involves the removal of the socket and ball , and replacing them with ceramic materials that are inserted into the femur bone. For healthy people, their hip point bones are connected to each other with bodily tissues known as ligaments. The hip Joint bones are surrounded by a tissue called 'cartilage’, this tissue helps to prevent the bones from rubbing each other.

Causes of Total Hip replacement
There are many causes of hip alignments, but only a few of them require urgent hip replacement surgery. Most causes of total hip replacement surgery are brought by problems of everyday activities such as driving, walking, sitting uncomfortable for long hours and getting dressed. Other cause of hip replacement includes:
1. Osteoarthritis- This is a type of bone arthritis where the cartilage inside the hip joint becomes worn out, causing the bones to rub against each other.
2. Hip fracture- a total hip replacement surgical procedure can be done to a person who’s hip joint has been severely damaged by an accident or any other cause.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis- This type of arthritis is mainly caused by the weakening of the immune system causing the hip joints to be attacked by infections that cause stiffness and pain.

Most of the above conditions affect adults between the age of 40 and 80, only a few younger people experience these conditions where total hip replacement surgery is required.

Common symptoms that shows you require urgent hip replacement surgery
1. If you are involved in a serious road accident or any other accident that has fractured one of your hips.
2. If you have acquired Rheumatoid arthritis or Osteoarthritis that doesn’t cure after medication.
3. If you have a birth abnormality that causes pain when you are walking, standing and carrying out your normal duties.
4. You can’t sleep at night because of hip joint pain.
5. Hip joint tumors caused by a sporting activity or accident.

Treatment options available for patients with hip joint problems
Most hip joint problems that are less server can be taken care of with hospital medication and body exercise to build muscles around the hips. However serious hip problems such as fractures and arthritis require urgent surgical solutions in order to save the patient lives.

Surgical treatment for total hip replacement
If your doctor diagnose you as a patient that require urgent hip replacement, you will be admitted in the hospital for total hip surgery. Once you are admitted, a member of the hospital anesthesia team will evaluate you on the appropriate anesthesia method to be used. Common methods includes a regional nerve block, spinal or epidural anesthesia or general anesthesia where you are put to sleep.
There are many different types of artificial hip replacement materials that are used in the surgical treatment. All of them consist of two components, the socket and the ball. The socket is a component that is usually made of a ceramic, metal or a durable plastic which consist of an outer metal shell while the ball socket is made of highly polished ceramic material or metal.