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Before Surgery
You will likely be admitted to the hospital on the day of surgery.
Before your procedure, a doctor from the anesthesia department will evaluate you. He or she will review your medical history and discuss anesthesia choices with you. You should also have discussed anesthesia choices with your surgeon during your preoperative clinic visits. Anesthesia can be either general (you are put to sleep) or spinal (you are awake but your body is numb from the waist down). In our Center more than 90% of patients undergo resurfacing surgery with spinal anesthesia. Your surgeon will also see you before surgery and sign your hip to verify the surgical site.
Surgical Procedure
A hip resurfacing operation typically lasts between 1 1/2 and 2 hours. Dr. Plakseychuk performs hip resurfacing through antero-lateral approach (Hardinge) in order to preserve blood supply to the femoral head. Surgeon will make an incision in your thigh in order to reach the hip joint. The femoral head is then dislocated out of the socket. Next, the head is trimmed with specially designed power instruments. A metal cap is cemented over the prepared femoral head. The cartilage that lines the socket is removed with a power tool called a reamer. A metal cup is then pushed into the socket and held in place by friction between the bone and the metal. Once the cup is in place, the femoral head is relocated back into the socket and the incision is closed. After the surgery you will be taken to the recovery room, where you will be closely monitored by nurses as you recover from the anesthesia. You will then be taken to your hospital room.
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved with hip resurfacing. Your surgeon will discuss each of the risks with you and will take specific measures to help avoid potential complications.
Although rare, the most common complications of hip resurfacing are:
- Blood clots. Blood clots in the leg veins are the most common complication of hip resurfacing surgery. Blood clots can form in the deep veins of the legs or pelvis after surgery. Blood thinners such as Lovenox, Arixtra or Xalerto, aspirin, or other drugs can help prevent this problem.
- Infection. You will be given antibiotics before the start of your surgery and these will be continued for about 24 hours afterward to prevent infection.
- Injury to nerves or vessels. Although it rarely happens, nerves or blood vessels may be injured or stretched during the procedure.
- Femoral neck fracture
- Dislocation
- Risks of anesthesia
In most cases, patients go home 1 to 2 days after surgery.
You will begin putting weight on your leg immediately after surgery. Most likely you will walk on day of surgery. You may need a walker, cane, or crutches for the first few days or weeks until you become comfortable enough to walk without assistance.
A physical therapist will work with you twice a day to help maintain your range of motion and restore your strength during hospital stay. After discharge physical therapist will come to your house if needed. You will continue to see your orthopaedic surgeon for follow-up visits in his or her clinic at regular intervals.
You will most likely resume your regular activities of daily living by 4-6 weeks after surgery.
Anton Plakseychuk MD, Hip Resurfacing
300 Halket Street
Pittsburgh,
PA
15213
US
Phone: 412-641-8609
Website: http://hip-resurfacing-bhr.com
Office Hours Monday and Wednesday
Office Hours Monday and Wednesday
