Hip Procedures

Total Hip Replacement

With advancing years or mechanical repetitive damage from sports or accidents, the ball and socket hip joint can erode its cartilage buffer cap. It then becomes arthritic. When the pain, stiffness and loss of mobility are no longer tolerable, the patient becomes a candidate for a hip replacement. In this routine procedure, the worn out femoral ball (aka head) is replaced by a metal or ceramic smaller ball set on a titanium stem, which is inserted into the shaft of the thigh bone (femur). This articulates with a liner set into a half-dome titanium shell, embedded into the pelvic socket. The clinical and patient satisfaction success rate of the operation is one of the highest of all surgical procedures, making it a favorite amongst patients and surgeons alike.

Click here to hear Dr. Meere talk about Hip Resurfacing vs. Hip Replacement on ABC news

 

Revision

Total hip replacement is successful in over 95% of well-selected patients. On average, replacements last 15-20 years. Some patients enjoy full use of the prosthesis after 25 years or longer. Occasionally, an implanted prosthesis does not function as well as it was intended to. In this case revision surgery may be performed to adjust or replace the mechanism.

Hip Joint Resurfacing (Arthroplasty)

A hip resurfacing arthroplasty or replacement is essentially a spherical metal cap inserted on the existing shaved "head" of the bone. It is similar in idea to a dental crown: it is a prosthetic cover on a preserved bone neck and head. On the cup side, the linerless polished metallic socket is placed in the natural bone cavity after shaving away the worn cartilage. Hip resurfacing arthroplasty is particularly well-suited for younger, very active patients since it allows a natural range of motion while permitting full loading and more vigorous activities. Furthermore, it preserves the femoral neck bone stock and facilitates any subsequent conversion to a standard hip replacement (if ever necessary). The technique, however, requires a more aggressive dissection and does not allow for a minimally-invasive surgical approach.

Click here to hear Dr. Meere talk about Hip Resurfacing vs. Hip Replacement on ABC news

Complex Joint Surgery (including infections)

If your joints are in severe pain and they affect your ability to move on a daily basis, replacing a joint can help relieve pain and restore normal movement. Joints that can be replaced include the hips, knees, shoulders, fingers, ankles, and elbows. Hips and knees are replaced most often. Complex joint surgery involves removing a damaged joint and replacing it with a new one. This procedure can be done on the hip, knee, and shoulder. In some cases, the whole joint is not removed and only part of the joint is replaced or repaired.

Minimally Invasive Hip (MIS) Surgery: Direct Anterior Approach / PATH posterior MIS approach

Dr. Meere specializes in various hip surgical techniques commonly known as "minimally invasive surgery" (MIS). This term refers to the type of surgical approach or incision made. It is the exposure of choice for primary or initial hip replacements. Direct anterior and PATH techniques are examples where the key posterior muscle groups are left intact, minimizing the risk of dislocation and optimizing the functionality for a faster and easier recovery. However, not all patients are candidates. It is the physician’s responsibility to judiciously select the best approach for each individual case.

If you are interested in learning more about any of our Hip Procedures,
call 212-263-2366 today to schedule an appointment.