what are the types of hip replacement surgeries?

Answer 1

A hip replacement consists of cutting off the femoral head, reaming out the acetabulum and the femur, fitting a metal cup (and sometimes a cup liner) in the acetabulum, and placing a metal stem in the femur. The femoral stem is topped off with a neck and ball to replace the part that was cut off. The possible variations on this basic surgery involve such things as size (and even the # ) of incisions, and the surgical approach used (posterior, postero-lateral, or anterior). Other variations on the basic surgery include computer-guided placement. Also, there are many brands of prosthesis available in a variety of different materials: metals, ceramics, polyethylene, etc.) But the basic THR is as I have described above.

A variation on the total hip replacement is called hip resurfacing. While this surgery involves reaming out the acetabulum to accept a metal cup, the head of the femur is not cut off. Instead it is smoothed out and a metal cap (thus the term "resurfacing") is placed over the natural femoral head. The device used in this surgery has been used abroad for many years but has only recently received FDA approval for use in the US. The device approved is called the Birmingham hip.

For more on the Birmingham hip, I offer one commercial link and one from FDA on the device:
http://www.birminghamhipresurfacing.com/
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/mda/docs/p040033.html

For more information on all types of treatments for hips:
http://totaljoints.info

Answer 2

I had hip replacement three months ago. The surgeon had to cut the stabilizer muscle at the side of my hip in order to get to the hip. The muscle was damaged by the worn out hip joint and now it won't regenerate and get strong so I am looking at a lifetime of using a walker. I can't even walk around in my apartment without it. ASK YOUR DOCTOR if your stabilizer muscle is healthy before you let him pick up a scalpel!!! Good luck. It's the most painful, debilitating thing I've had done yet.