If you’ve been dealing with hip pain for some time now and your efforts to manage the issue with conservative treatments have failed, it may be time to recognize that your best path forward is with the help of a surgical procedure. If deterioration of key hip components is present in your hip joint, your doctor may talk to you about a couple different options. For some patients, a hip resurfacing procedure may provide the type of relief they seek, while others may benefit from a partial or total hip replacement. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the differences between hip resurfacing and hip replacement procedures.
Different Types Of Hip Surgery
Let’s explore why a hip specialist may recommend a couple different procedures based on your individual needs, beginning with a hip resurfacing procedure.
- Hip Resurfacing – Hip resurfacing is the procedure that preserves the most bone in the hip area of the three operations we’ll be spotlighting. The bone-perserving procedure is a popular one among younger individuals with hip issues, especially athletes and those looking to remain active for decades to come. With the hip resurfacing procedure, your surgeon will only replace your hip socket (the acetabulum) with a prosthetic component. The surgeon will then trim, reshape and resurface the head of your thigh bone so that it fits more securely into the prosthetic acetabulum. As we touched on above, a hip resurfacing procedure tends to be a better option for younger and healthier patients with less deterioration across multiple components of the hip joint.
- Partial Hip Replacement – Also known as a hemiarthroplasty procedure, a partial hip replacement involves replacing the ball of the hip joint with an artificial component. A small portion of the femoral neck is also replaced, but the socket is left alone. Again, this helps to preserve more of the natural joint components within the hip. It tends to be more common for individuals who have suffered an injury or degeneration of the femoral head while the bone socket remains relatively strong and healthy. The procedure is less invasive than a total hip replacement and can be a smart option for patients who don’t need the durability of a full hip replacement.
- Total Hip Replacement – Total hip replacement is the most common procedure for patients who have moderate to severe unilateral arthritic damage to multiple components within the hip joint. If both the ball and socket show significant wear, which is quite common in older adults who have been active throughout their lives, then a resurfacing or partial hip replacement simply won’t cut it. With a total hip replacement, prosthetic components are used to replace the ball, socket and femoral neck within the hip joint. These artificial pieces are built to last and should last for the rest of your life, allowing you to have less pain and be more mobile as you get older. Hundreds of thousands of total hip replacement procedures are performed each year in the United States.
If you are still wondering which procedure is right for you, come in for a consultation and talk about your hip discomfort with Dr. Botero. He’ll provide an individualized diagnosis and talk with you about your symptoms and goals before diving into your different treatment options. From there, he’ll be with you every step of the way until your care is complete.
For more information about hip resurfacing or hip replacement, or for help getting to the bottom of your hip pain, reach out to Dr. Botero’s office today at (865) 558-4444.
