Who should consider total hip arthroplasty, hip resurfacing, and minimally-invasive hip surgery?
It is usually reasonable to try a number of non-operative interventions before considering hip replacement surgery for arthritis. Prior to surgery, an orthopedic surgeon may offer pills (either non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications or analgesics like acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol), knee injections, or exercises. Your surgeon may talk to you about activity modification, weight loss, or use of a cane. The decision to undergo a hip replacement is a “quality of life” choice. Patients typically have the procedure when they find themselves avoiding activities that they used to enjoy because of hip pain. When basic activities of daily life–like walking, shopping, or reasonable recreational pastimes–are inhibited or prevented by the hip pain, it may be reasonable to consider the surgery. Very rarely, the arthritis can cause a destructive pattern of bone loss. In this instance, a surgeon might recommend the surgery in order to prevent a type of pelvic fracture (called protrusio a
