Factors that may necessitate hip replacement surgery

Weitz & Luxenberg is committed to providing the public with information on hip replacement surgery, including the various reasons that may necessitate such a procedure. If you have any questions about hip replacement surgery, or if you would like to receive legal counsel about what to do if you have suffered from one of the defective DePuy hip implants, Weitz & Luxenberg is available to help.

Aging

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter”- Mark Twain
 

Not everyone regards aging with the same optimism as Mark Twain. In a society preoccupied with the preservation of youth, the prospect of growing old is unsettling for many. As the years past, the body is less durable, and owing to loss of bone density, fractures and breaks can easily occur. When an older person damages an especially important bone, such as the pelvis, they may worry that they will never again be able to partake in the simple pleasures of life, such as riding a bicycle or taking a walk. Fortunately, advances in science and medicine have made growing old less unpleasant, and when a hip replacement procedure is executed properly, a senior can resume some or even all of their beloved physical activities.

Pelvic Injury (Sports Related)

Although the bones are strongest during youth, too much rumble and tumble can cause pelvic injury. “Many injuries that are believed to be pulled muscle, may actually be undetected fracture of the pelvis.” (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons) Athletes that partake in rigorous sports, such as football, can sustain all kind of injuries, some of which require surgery.

In August 2010, Sidney Rice, one of the wide receivers for the Minnesota Vikings, dismissed his hip pain as just another sports injury, but when the pain became debilitating, he had to undergo hip surgery. Not yet 24, Rice was in the prime of life, but the injury left him incapacitated for at least half of the football season.  

Bone and Joint Diseases

Arthritis:Arthritis refers to any condition that involves join damage, with or without inflammation. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, and fibromyalgia, among others. Depending on the severity of a person’s particular type of arthritis, coupled with other factors such as age, surgery may be the only option.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Lupus is known to damage especially large joints, like the knees and the pelvis. A medical professional will usually treat Lupus with high doses of cortisone, however, since the disease damages vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, and lungs, a patient with Lupus must be carefully monitored. They must have a “thorough preoperative examination and a consultation with a rheumatologist prior to hip surgery.” (Total Joints Info)

Femoral Head Necrosis: This disease involves death to the femur due to poor blood supply to the area.  The condition is serious. If the dead segments of a bone do not function the way that they should, they can lose strength and break down. There are several medical conditions that can result in necrosis of the femur, or any other bone, such as Cushing’s Syndrome, Radiation Exposure, Pancreatitis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Sickle Cell Disease, among others. Excessive drinking and steroid use can also precipitate bone necrosis.

Congenital Hip Dysplasia:“The term Congenital Hip Dysplasia refers to changes in the form of the hip joint, which are already present at birth.” (Total Joints Info) In a normal pelvis, the femoral head fits perfectly within the acetabulum, and has just enough space for free movements. In a person afflicted by hip dysplasia, the femoral head and the acetabulum do not fit together, due to abnormal development. Surgery can correct this, but there are several risks involved, including:

• Loss of strength in the muscles surrounding the replaced hip
• Increased chance of the hip implant dislocating (especially common in women)
• Increased risk for sciatic nerve damage after difficult total hip operation
• Difficulty walking as a result of uneven leg length

Impingement of the Hip Joint: The labrum of the hip joint is “a fibrous structure that increases the depth of the hip socket.” (Total Joints Info) Its primary function is to “provide a suction seal and to give stability to the hip joint.” (Hospital for Special Surgery) Prior to the advent of the MRI, such an injury was often misdiagnosed as a common groin pull. Athletes, such as soccer players, can damages their labrums, because of the repetitiveness of their movements (in the case of soccer, kicking).

Ankylosing Spondylitis: Also known as Rheumatoid spondylitis (among difficult to pronounce names) this disease “causes inflammation of the joints between the spinal bones, and the joints between the spine and pelvis.” (Google Heath) It typically strikes patients between the ages of 20 and 40 and affects male more than females. Although the exact cause of Ankylosing Spondylitis is not yet known by medical professionals, the disease is believe to be genetic. Its symptoms include lower back pain, fatigue, hip pain/stiffness, and joint pain/swelling.

Note: These are only a fraction of the many bone and joint diseases.

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Acknowledgments:

Google Health:https://health.google.com/health/ref/Ankylosing+spondylitis

The Hospital for Special Surgery: http://www.hss.edu/conditions_Labral-Injuries-of-the-Hip.asp

Arthritis Treatment and Relief: http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com/types-of-arthritis.html

Total Joints Info:http://www.totaljoints.info/hip_disease.htm#SLE

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons:

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00223

Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head: http://www.pitt.edu/~antonp/Welcome.html

National Football League (NFL):

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d819fa75f/article/hip-surgery-could-keep-vikings-wr-rice-out-half-of-season

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