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Frequently Asked Questions |
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Before hip replacement surgery: Is there an alternative to surgery? There are certain drugs or dietary supplements that can be taken depending on the cartilage and its grade of wear. There are special insoles to be worn in shoes that can serve as a sort of shock absorber and will reduce pain. There is physical therapy that can also reduce pain and by strengthening the muscles will improve the patient’s physical status thereby putting him into a better starting position should the need for surgery arise. The physiotherapists I work with are Karin Tausendschön, Karin.Tausendschoen@physiotherapie-sonnberg.com
More than 90 % of all hip replacements in Austria are implanted without cement. The Zweymueller cementless hip endoprothesis developed in Vienna has been in use since 1979. As you can imagine we are very experienced with this type of implant having meanwhile used it in more than 420000 patients. YET; what is even more important than the prosthetic design is the implantation technique and how experienced the surgeon is. Cementless hip implants can be used in nearly all cases with the exception of Morbus Paget.
The answer is, yes. Porotic bone is equally suited for a cementless implant. With patients of high age, however, the surgeon may decide to use a cemented prothesis to speed up post operative mobilization.
Of course you can! Patients who are overweight also have surgery. The result is not impaired in any way. There is merely a slightly higher risk of getting a wound infection. In my long- term follow–up studies I could prove that there is no difference in the survival rate of the implant in patients who are of normal weight or overweight.
For many people it is still a given fact that implants will have to be exchanged after ten years. This constitutes a grave misunderstanding but like so many other wrong opinions cannot be eradicated. The so–called probability of survival of cementless endoprosthesis with contemporary bearings is 99% at ten years. To put it differently: With a probability of 99% you will not need a revision within ten years.
You should check with a doctor of internal medicine to clarify this question. In order to be able to donate your own blood you should not have any respiratory diseases or a heart condition, and be free of anaemia or infectious diseases. Besides ensuring the availability of compatible blood this procedure eliminates the risk of disease transmission from infected donors. The autologous blood can be stored for 42 days. Usually two to three units will be taken.
For instance at the blood donation service of the Austrian Red Cross (A-1041 Vienna, Wiedner Hauptstrasse 32. www.roteskreuz.at ) Hip replacement surgery:
It will roughly take one hour under normal conditions.
You may need a blood transfusion. Most patients, however, can donate their own blood so allogenic blood will not be administered. Usually a so called cell saver is used during surgery. That way the patient’s blood is processed and returned to the patient in the recovery room.
After surgery you will receive a sufficient dose of pain killers to eliminate pain.
You will have to stay for one to two weeks after surgery if there are no further complications.
Nowadays forearm crutches are prescribed for a much shorter period than in former times when they had to be worn for three months. You can decide nowadays how long you want to walk with the help of crutches. In the majority of cases they are used for four weeks. There are some patients, however, whose mobilization can be achieved without using crutches at all.
Even after multiple replacements there will still be another possibility to help you. After hip replacemnt surgery:
No, you will not be forced. Yet it is nearly always recommended to go on rehab in order to make the surgery a full success.
What will be achieved in a rehab clinic is the following. Your muscular strength and how well you coordinate those muscles will be improved. This will have a positive affect on the way you walk. Additionally your will be trained to get more stamina and the ability to move the new joint will be improved.
SKA WARMBAD VILLACH is an excellent rehab institution. It is run by a team of orthopaedists.
PVA Wehlistrasse (A-1021 Wien, Wehlistraße 127, phone: 050303, E-mail: zar@pva.sozvers.at) is a walk in rehab clinic among others also offering rehab after surgical operations.
You will not be allowed to do sports within a period of three months. Your body will need this time to heal. There will not be any restrictions after this time.
There are no restrictions after three months.
The answer is, yes. Most implants are discovered at airports and any other security checks (e.g. courthouses). This is why you will get an identification pass that will identify you as a person with a hip implant.
Bacteria can spread from any source of infection to the implant (e. g. from dental infections or nail bed inflammation) This subsequently leads to an infection of the implant, its treatment being very difficult. Therefore you should always take antibiotics when having a purulent infection somewhere in you body
An implant should be checked at regular intervals. In the beginning an interval of two to three years will be adequate. After ten years an x-ray should be taken every year. |
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