Dr. Matthew Popa joined the EmergeOrtho—Triangle Region practice to offer patients his expertise in orthopedic care. He takes a holistic and individualized approach to patient care, making their goals his priority. While he provides patients a range of services, Dr. Popa is a hip surgeon and fellowship-trained in adult joint replacement, particularly hips and knees.
Who Can Benefit from Hip Replacement Surgery?
Orthopedic hip surgery is a big step, but for many patients, it becomes necessary when more conservative treatments fail to relieve pain or improve mobility. Hip surgeons like Dr. Popa can talk you through the options and determine when a replacement surgery makes sense for you.
In general, people who can benefit from hip replacement have:
- Significant hip pain that impairs or limits normal daily activities
- Hip pain that doesn’t go away with rest and that persists when stationary or at night
- Stiffness in the hip that significantly limits the range of motion in the joint
Most patients try more conservative treatments, like lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and medications before undergoing surgery. When these no longer help, it’s time to consider joint replacement.
Arthritis is one of the most common conditions treated with hip replacement. Most patients are older and have osteoarthritis, but some have rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder, or arthritis that developed after an injury.
Other reasons to have a hip replacement include traumatic injury in the joint and osteonecrosis. The latter is a condition that causes bone death as a result of limited blood supply to the tissue.
Hip Replacement Surgery – What to Expect
During hip replacement surgery, the surgeon removes diseased or damaged joint tissue and replaces it with synthetic components. Before undergoing the procedure, your surgeon will take your medical history, do a physical examination, and run tests, often imaging scans to get a good look at the state of the hip joint.
Your surgeon will also explain what to expect on the day of surgery and after, and what you need to do to prepare. On the day of surgery, the anesthesia team will explain the type of anesthesia you will receive and what will happen. Options include general anesthesia and a spinal block that numbs the lower half of your body.
Are There Any Risks of Hip Surgery?
Like any surgery, there are always risks, but hip replacement is a common procedure. More than 450,000 hip replacements are performed every year in the U.S., and surgical techniques have advanced significantly to make this a low-risk procedure.
Some of the potential risks include blood clots, infections, and fractures during surgery. After the procedure, risks include a loosening in the new joint, nerve damage, joint dislocation, and changes in leg length. The best hip surgeons take steps to minimize these risks so that complications are rare.
How Long Does it Take to Recover From Hip Surgery?
A joint replacement can help you live with less pain and greater mobility, but much of the success of the procedures results from the recovery period. Your surgeon will talk to you about what to expect, the duration of recovery, and what you can and cannot do. Follow their instructions carefully for the best outcome.
Exactly how long it takes to recover and get back to normal activities depends on each individual. Most people can resume light activities within three to six weeks. You can get the most out of your recovery by following your surgeon’s plan. This will likely include pain management, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and prescribed exercises at home.
If your hip has been holding you back from enjoying your life, it’s time to talk to a specialist. When it comes to the health of your hip, an orthopedic surgeon is your best ally. The best hip specialists will discuss all your options and help you determine if a joint replacement is the right choice for you.
To learn more about hip replacement, request a consultation with Dr. Popa, or call us at 919-220-5255
