HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY SOLICITORS - MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE CLAIM

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Hip replacement surgery is also called a total hip replacement and replaces the severely arthritic hip with an artificial ball and socket joint attached to the affected area by attaching it to the femur and to the pelvic bone. The design of the various types of implants gives you new stability and function of the hip. Hip replacement surgery is highly successful when done correctly and your pain can be nearly eliminated. The hip joint can work better and your ability to walk around can be improved. If you have pain unresponsive to physical therapy, exercise and medicine, you are a good candidate for a hip replacement. If you would like advice at no cost just use the helpline or complete the contact form and a hip replacement surgery solicitor will telephone you with no charge and no obligation.

There are more than 300,000 hip replacement surgeries performed each year in the US. The surgeon removes the degenerated cartilage and bone from the hip joint, replacing them with prosthetic materials. The end result is long term pain relief and an increase in mobility of the joint.

There is a high success rate with hip replacement surgery in most cases. In some cases, however, the hip replacement surgery fails. With hip replacement techniques such as the DePuy hip replacement, the failure rate is around 12 percent, which is considered unsatisfactory. The DePuy device is currently being recalled due to its high failure rate. Other hip replacement devices may also be recalled now or in the future due to high failure rates.

The hip joint is a common ball and socket joint made of two bones, the pelvic bone and the head of the femur or long bone of the leg. The head of the femur is a ball-shaped bony prominence that sticks out at an angle to the long bone. The socket is a depression in the pelvic bone that just fits the ball. The outer portion of the bones includes a hard shell, called the cortex, with a central cavity inside that contains bone marrow. There are ligaments and a fibrous capsule that forms the support structure of the joint. Cartilage makes the joint move smoothly without pain in most cases.

There are two aspects to a hip replacement-the femoral preparation and the acetabular preparation. The acetabulum is the socket part of the joint. In the acetabular preparation, there are special mushroom-shaped reamers that remove the diseased bone and damaged cartilage. All blood and fat are removed and the acetabulum is dried. Cement is placed in the acetabulum and forced into the honeycomb of the bone. Implants and a liner are applied to the cement and affixed to the acetabulum. Sometimes screws are used to screw the new acetabulum into place.

With the femoral preparation, the femoral head is removed and the shaft is reamed out with rasps. The area is power-washed to remove blood, fat and debris and the bone is dried. Cement is used into the femur end and a stem is pushed down into the hole. The cement dries and the joint is connected with the acetabulum. Ligaments are used to hold the joint together along with the muscles surrounding the joint.

The surgeon usually selects the type of joint you need so you have the best mobility and the least pain. There are many different types of joints that can be inserted into the hip. The following are some choices: You can have a metal ball along with polyethylene liners; you can have a metal ball and a metal liner; you can have a ceramic ball and a polyethylene liner; you can have a ceramic ball and a ceramic liner. The socket is put into place as a cup-shaped insert and a plastic liner is inserted into the metal shell. A metal stem is inserted into the femur and has a number of sizes to fit the acetabulum and to match the opposite side. The implants can be secured to bone using cement or it can be allowed to connect via bony ingrowth of the bone into the implant.

In some cases, a total hip replacement is not necessary and hip resurfacing is done instead. Hip resurfacing reshapes the femoral head and the acetabulum is left intact. It allows the individual to keep most of their own bone and doesn't preclude the possibility of a hip replacement later.

HELPLINE: ☎ 1800 633 634

Medical Negligence Solicitors

Our medical negligence solicitors will maximise your personal injury compensation claim using a no win no fee arrangement which means that if you don�t win then you don�t pay them their professional costs. If you believe that your Hip Replacement Surgery was carried out negligently then just complete the contact form or email our solicitors offices or use the helpline and a Hip Replacement Surgery solicitor will telephone you at no cost and with no obligation.

HELPLINE: ☎ 1800 633 634

The author of the substantive medical writing on this website is Dr. Christine Traxler MD whose biography can be read here