Hip Replacement

Hip replacement (hip arthroplasty) is surgery to replace a damaged hip joint with a metal-and-plastic (or ceramic) implant. It is one of the most successful operations in medicine — transforming severe hip arthritis, some hip fractures, and inflammatory hip disease into pain-free function. India has strong orthopaedic capacity and good long-term outcomes with hip replacement.

When it is considered

• Severe hip osteoarthritis — pain on walking, at rest, at night, affecting quality of life.
• Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis affecting hips.
• Avascular necrosis — of the femoral head (loss of blood supply); common in India in younger adults after steroids, heavy alcohol, or in sickle cell disease.
• Femoral neck fractures in older adults — often replaced rather than fixed.
• Post-traumatic arthritis.
• Hip dysplasia, developmental hip disease — sometimes needs replacement in adulthood.

Types

• Total hip replacement — both the ball and socket replaced; standard.
• Hemiarthroplasty — only the ball; often for femoral neck fractures in older, less active patients.
• Resurfacing — less bone removed; selected younger active patients.
• Bilateral — both hips; in suitable cases.
• Revision — for implants that wear/loosen after decades.

What to expect

• Spinal or general anaesthesia.
• Surgery takes 1-2 hours.
• Hospital stay: 3-5 days; walking the same/next day.
• Full recovery in 3-6 months with physiotherapy.
• Most implants last 20+ years with modern materials.
• Follow hip precautions for the first 6 weeks — don't cross legs, don't bend past 90°, avoid low seating and Indian-style floor sitting for the first months (a raised toilet seat + high chair help).

Risks

• Infection, bleeding, blood clots, dislocation (highest risk in early weeks), leg-length inequality, nerve injury.
• Anaesthesia-related.
• Generally low at experienced centres.
• Pre-surgery optimisation — control diabetes, BP, dental infections, stop smoking, lose weight — reduces complications substantially.

India-specific practical notes

Hip replacement is widely available across Indian orthopaedic centres. Costs vary; Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and state schemes cover hip replacement for eligible patients at empanelled hospitals. Avascular necrosis of the hip — linked to steroid courses, heavy alcohol, and sickle cell disease — is a common Indian reason for hip replacement in younger patients. Recovery programmes that account for Indian living (floor sitting, squat toilets, joint-family homes) help — ask the team about adjustments.