Key points:
- Cartilage wear in the femoral head and acetabulum causes the bone to be exposed and thus causes pain.
- Falls at home are one of the leading causes of hip fractures.
- Although hip surgery takes up to 12 weeks to reach full recovery, from the day after surgery the patient will be able to move around with support.
Hip wear occurs due to the loss of cartilage found in the femoral head and in the acetabulum, a situation that exposes the bone, which begins to scrape or rub against each other, causing pain, says Dr. Javier Camacho Galindo, orthopedist and traumatologist at the ABC Medical Center. This triggers a decrease in mobility when performing activities as simple as walking or climbing stairs, that is, they prevent the person from functioning daily.
For its part, hip trauma can be identified due to intense pain, inability to stand up or move, and even, at some levels, some deformity can be seen in the leg. These cases are patients who must be transferred to the hospital by ambulance as they require delicate and careful handling.
Among the main causes of hip fractures are falls that occur at home, for which it is recommended that, if the patient is an elderly person or has shown signs of difficulty moving, it is important that they have a cane or walker. Also, avoid dangers at home such as rugs, stools, and small objects they could trip over. It is recommended, especially at night, to have lighting in the corridors towards the bathroom to avoid falls.
Dr. Camacho says that joint replacement is a solution for all those patients who already suffer from joint wear or even hip fractures, regardless of age. Thanks to this procedure, not only pain will be controlled, but they will also be able to return to their normal life.
“Hip replacement surgery is a procedure in which a surgeon makes an incision in the side of the thigh, removes the diseased parts of the hip joint, and replaces them with new artificial parts.”1
When considering this procedure, it’s normal for patients to fear the pain it can bring, but Dr. Camacho mentions that various techniques and medications are usually used to control the pain, to help the patient have a rapid surgery rehabilitation, which in general will take between 10 and 12 weeks, but from the next day they will be able to start moving with the support of a walker or crutches.
The Joint Replacement Clinic receives all those patients seeking a hip joint replacement, from the first consultation to rehabilitation. Contact us!
Fuente:
Dr. Javier Camacho Galindo Orthopedics and traumatology specialist at ABC Medical Center
https://youtu.be/K7Zo7uU0-Ww
1 https://www.niams.nih.gov/es/informacion-de-salud/cirugia-de-reemplazo-de-cadera
