Joint Replacement Institute

On the day of surgery you will first be taken to the pre-anesthesia room where the anesthesiologist will discuss the anesthesia options. Two types of anesthesia are commonly used for hip surgery. The first is a general anesthesia, which puts you in a deep sleep and therefore requires assistance with your breathing. The risks are small and usually are related to the heart or lungs. The second type of anesthesia (epidural anesthesia) works by numbing your legs so you do not feel the operation. This is done by placing numbing medicine around the nerves that go to your legs using a small catheter in your lower back. You are also given medicine to relax you and you may fall asleep, but you can still breathe on your own. The potential advantages of the epidural anesthesia include less blood loss and less risk of lung problems and blood clots in the legs. Also, the epidural can be continued after your surgery to help control the pain. If you are young and/or without vascular disease, your surgeon and anesthesiologist may employ methods to lower blood pressure (hypotensive anesthesia) to conserve blood loss, and to assist in obtaining optimal fixation when acrylic bone cement is used.

You will then be taken to the operating room and devices will be placed on you to monitor your heart, blood pressure, breathing and temperature. The anesthesia will be administered, you will be placed on your side with the operative side up, and a slightly curved incision will be made over your hip and thigh. The trochanter with its muscle attachments is occasionally removed for exposure to the joint.

The trochanter (rarely removed except in revisions) is wired back in place and suction tubes are placed within the wound to prevent accumulation of blood following surgery. The incision is then closed with sutures and metal clips and a compression dressing is applied. A large triangular shaped pillow is placed between your legs to help prevent hip dislocation.

Unlike conventional total hip replacement (THR), hip resurfacing is conservative in that the femoral head and neck of the hip joint are not removed nor is bone removed from the femur. In the case of surface replacement, less bone is also removed from the acetabulum as compared to conventional THR since no polyethylene liner is used.

Minimally Invasive Hip Resurfacing

JRI Research

The staff of JRI is engaged in various research studies, including: improving long term joint replacement durability by selective use of new replacement bearing technology, histological characterization of implant fixation, relationship between wear debris and aseptic loosening.

Hip Replacement

Knee Replacement