Factors in Choosing Surgery

As in many situations, Total Hip Replacement Surgery is generally only recommended if alternative therapies are not expected to prove successful in treating the specific case. If a patient's hip is likely to respond positively to medications, exercises or injections, the surgeon will usually not suggest surgery. Other factors might include surgery such as prior infection in the hip, a severe injury that has destroyed the supporting hip muscles or ligaments, or other medical factors such as a critical heart condition or severe kidney disease.

Modern techniques and prostheses have extended the age at which hip replacement can be done. After careful consideration, hip replacement may even be indicated in people under 50 years of age even though the higher demands that young patients place on the prosthesis often means they will require another hip replacement within their lifetime.

How Long Will the Implant Last?

The longevity of the implant depends on many factors such as the patient's weight, the patient's activity level, and the presence or absence of disease in other joints of the lower extremities.