What is hip osteoarthritis?
Hip arthritis is a degenerative disease, which manifests itself due to the wear and tear of cartilage and causes pain and reduced joint mobility, creating a significant degree of disability with similar consequences for the quality of life of patients. The proper functioning of the joints, many times regardless of age, is a basic condition for a quality life, enabling the person to enjoy all the activities of daily life.
In particular, the hip joint is considered one of the most important joints, because this joint connects the lower extremities to the trunk and is necessary for all movements, from the simplest to the most complex. Thus, the problematic joint of a hip significantly affects the movement and the quality of human life and is characterized by severe pain.
What are the symptoms of this condition?
The main symptom of hip osteoarthritis is joint pain and dysfunction. By dysfunction we mean that the person can not walk easily, resulting in limping, which results in limitation of the patient’s daily activities and work.
How is hip osteoarthritis diagnosed?
The diagnosis is always made by a specialized orthopedist after a good and detailed clinical examination. The doctor will then refer the patient for an X-ray. In cases where plain X-ray is not sufficient, MRI can be done.
How is it treated and when do we choose the surgery?
The development of severe osteoarthritis that does not respond to conservative treatment (physiotherapy – anti-inflammatory drugs – injectable therapy) makes total arthroplasty the main treatment option.
Total hip arthroplasty is called joint replacement surgery with artificial, and is undoubtedly one of the greatest achievements not only of orthopedics but also of medicine in general, which in recent years has evolved, with the help of technology, into minimally invasive robotic surgery.
Do you need hospitalization for this operation?
The patient needs to stay in the hospital for 1 day only and the operation is relatively bloodless, while the postoperative pain is minimal.
The complication rate is less than 1% when performed by specially trained orthopedic surgeons in robotic surgery.