Patient information

Hip Joint replacement surgery

In Germany, an estimated 20 million people are affected by joint problems and are thus more or less severely restricted in their mobility and quality of life.

Medicine and science have made great progress in this field in recent years. The design, materials and manufacture of endoprostheses are pointed to the highest requirements. OHST medical technology has been developing endoprostheses for over 30 years and manufactures them in Germany.

A modern hip endoprosthesis is designed according to the natural hip joint and can give you a better quality of life and more mobility in your free time, in everyday life and during work. The insertion of artificial joints is one of the most common treatment methods in medicine.

With the following information we would like to inform you about the hip joint replacement surgery.
The information given below, is purely general information, as individual hospitals may proceed differently. Therefore, it is imperative that you discuss everything in detail with your treating physician in advance. In addition to risks and warnings, the patient education provided by the treating physician includes an explanation of the safe use of the prosthesis by the patient.

Possible diseases of the hip joint
If the articular cartilage in the hip joint is extremely worn, a joint replacement (endoprosthesis) is often unavoidable.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis begins with an imbalance between the load and load-bearing capacity of the hip joint, causing more and more cartilage tissue to be destroyed. This damage is irreparable because cartilage tissue cannot regenerate. The result is that the bones rub against each other without protection. In most cases, this results in muscle tension, restricted movement and pain.

If the joint cartilage is severely damaged, non-surgical treatment methods are often no longer sufficient. An artificial joint then offers you the chance of a new life in motion.

Wear and tear of the hip joint
If the cartilage layer between the femoral head and acetabulum wears away progressively over the years, this is also referred to as „age-related wear and tear“. The hip joint is then damaged to such an extent that it can no longer fulfill its „shock absorber function“.

Fracture of the hip joint
A fall or strike can cause a fracture of the neck of the femur. In this case, the femur breaks in the area of the femoral neck or the femoral head.

Older patients in particular are affected, as the risk of bone fractures increases considerably with age and reduced bone substance. 

Malalignment of the hip joint
The technical term „hip dysplasia“ refers to a congenital or acquired malformation in the area of the acetabulum. Because the acetabular roof is shaped too flat and is at too steep an angle, the femoral head cannot find support. Without treatment, hip dysplasia often results in osteoarthritis at an early age.

Procedure of hip surgery
Hip surgery is a routine procedure that is usually performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately one to two hours.

Although the entire joint or parts are replaced with a prosthesis, usually only a small incision below the hip is required.

The stabilizing hip muscles are then gently pushed aside, and an orthopaedic saw is used to cut and remove the worn femoral head and part of the femoral neck.

After the femoral head is removed, the acetabulum is now clearly visible. Special remaers are used to remove old cartilage tissue, thus preparing the acetabulum for joint replacement.

The femur is then prepared with special rasps in different sizes. Once the correct size has been achieved, a trial positioning is performed to check whether the hip joint is stable.

Once everything has been checked and verified, the final prosthesis is placed in the previously prepared bones.

The type of hip prosthesis used depends on many different factors, including the age of the patient and the type and severity of the underlying disease. Cemented, cementless or hybrid anchoring of the prosthesis in the bone is possible.

Thanks to intensive research, it is now possible to replace the diseased parts of the joint while preserving as much bone substance as possible.  Hip prostheses are made of state-of-the-art materials that have been continuously perfected in recent years.

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