Diagnosis Methods for Hip Joint Replacement

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the first hip replacement was done in 1960. Over 193,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed each year within the United States. The first step to hip replacement is diagnosis.

Causes

• Arthritis is the most frequent reason for hip pain that leads to hip replacement. There are three common forms. Osteoarthritis is the wearing away of hip cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that inflames the synovial membrane. Traumatic arthritis is caused by injury.

Evaluation

• An orthopedic surgeon will make a diagnosis by having an x-ray and MRI taken of the hip area. The extent of damage or in some cases, deformity, will give him guidance on which diagnosis to make as well as if hip replacement is an option. Also, he will look at your family's medical history and access the hip area for mobility and strength.

Decision

• Making the decision to have hip replacement will depend on the severity of the diagnosis and the extent of pain. If the pain is not relieved by medication and limits your everyday life, you may be a good candidate for surgery. In some cases, physical therapy is an option.