Know the Facts Before Hip Replacement

KCBA—Monterey, Calif.—April 23, 2010

On the golf course, in the garden, or at the shopping mall, most people want to stay active, regardless of age. As the number of Americans reaching their 60s grows daily, the demand for mobility-restoring procedures, such as hip replacement, is steadily increasing.

Total joint replacement has evolved into a reliable and effective way to relieve pain and restore function to joints that have been damaged or destroyed by arthritis or injury. Joint replacement makes it possible for patients to resume their active lives, say the Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement experts at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, a world leader in orthopedics and rheumatology.

Although the best weight-bearing surface is human cartilage, when the damage is too great, manmade materials, in the form of an artificial joint, become an option. Before undergoing a joint replacement procedure, it's important for people to learn from their doctor, what is involved in the surgery and to have realistic expectations.

One of the important developments in hip replacement is the number of options available for artificial joints. Patients considering hip replacement surgery should count on their surgeon to work with them in selecting the right type of implant design and material.

Says Dr. Mark P. Figgie, chief of the Surgical Arthritis Service at Hospital for Special Surgery, "I always spend a lot of time with my patients going over all the options and listening to them to learn what their needs and expectations are. The patients find the time we spend together talking about their needs and expectations invaluable. Once this process is completed and I feel that they are sufficiently informed, it is always up to the patient to decide."