Source: CentralJersey.com
Imagine having your hip replaced in the morning and then being able to walk the length of a football field that same afternoon. Imagine being able to go home within than 24 hours.
A new muscle-sparing procedure offered at Penn Medicine Princeton Health is enabling many hip replacement patients to do just that.
Hip pain and stiffness is often brought on by osteoarthritis, when the cartilage between the weight-bearing ball and socket joint wears away. It occurs most often in people aged 50 and and older, and can limit your ability to perform even the most basic activities such as walking, bending, or getting out of a chair.
Common symptoms of osteoarthritis in the hip include:
• Pain in the groin or thigh that radiates to your buttocks or your knee.
• Pain that flares up with vigorous activity.
• Stiffness that makes it difficult to walk or bend.
• Grinding noise during movement or locking or sticking of the joint.
• Decreased range of motion.
• Increased joint pain with rainy weather.
Treatment for osteoarthritis of the hip typically begins with non-surgical approaches, such as lifestyle changes, physical therapy, assistive devices, and medications. However, as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) notes, there are several reasons why your doctor may recommend hip replacement surgery:
• Hip pain that continues while resting, either day or night.
• Stiffness in the hip that limits the ability to move or lift the leg.
• Inadequate pain relief from anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, or walking supports.
At Penn Medicine Princeton Health, surgeons are performing hip replacement surgeries using minimally invasive techniques, such as a new procedure called direct superior hip replacement.. It typically takes less than an hour to complete because surgeons do not have to traumatize the hip muscles that are traditionally cut.
If you suffer from debilitating pain and stiffness in your hip, talk with your doctor about the benefits of hip replacement surgery — waiting too long to undergo the procedure can compromise speed of the outcome.
When performed with newest techniques and technologies, hip replacement surgery can give you your life back.
To learn more, call Penn Medicine Princeton Health at 888-742-7496, or visit PrincetonHCS.org.