Who is a good candidate for a hip replacement?

Has your doctor recommended hip replacement for you? Arthritis in your hips may make you a candidate for this surgery. Orthopedic surgeon Vonda Wright, MD, discusses hip replacement.

Transcript

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Candidates for this surgery include people with arthritis of the hip joint who have significant pain

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and inability to perform normal job or recreational activities.

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Has your doctor recommended hip replacement for you? Total hip replacement sounds scary, but it's actually one of the most successful

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orthopedic surgery procedures for relieving pain and improving your quality of life. In this procedure, the surgeon replaces the upper end

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of the thigh bone with a metal ball and resurfaces the hip socket in the pelvic bone with a metal

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shell and plastic liner. Candidates for this surgery include people with arthritis of the hip joint who have significant pain

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and inability to perform normal job or recreational activities. Traditionally, surgeons preferred

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to wait until patients were at least past middle aged to perform this surgery because hip replacements only

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last 10 to 15 years. However, recently, thinking has shifted in the medical community. More doctors are offering hip replacements to patients with

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significant arthritis, pain, and dysfunction, even if they're in their 40s and 50s.

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And earlier surgery can preserve those patients' ability to stay active, which is good for their overall health.

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If you think you may be a candidate for hip replacement, check with your doctor.