Total Hip Replacement
Total hip replacement surgery replaces the damaged head of the thighbone and the hip socket with an artificial ball and socket to relieve pain and restore movement. It is most commonly recommended for patients with osteoarthritis, osteonecrosis, or rheumatoid arthritis who have not found adequate relief from other treatments.
Table of Contents
The most common type of hip replacement surgery is arthroplasty, also known as total hip replacement. In this surgery, the diseased head of the thighbone and the hip socket are replaced with an artificial ball and socket. The prosthesis is anchored into place with bone cement or is covered with material that allows bone tissue to grow into it.
Am I a candidate for a hip replacement?
Patients with osteoarthritis, osteonecrosis or rheumatoid arthritis may find that total hip replacement is an effective way to reduce pain, restore normal joint function and return to your favorite activities.
Talk with your doctor to see if total hip replacement is right for you if you experience hip pain that:
- Affects your ability to go up and down stairs
- Interferes with your sleep
- Makes it difficult to rise from a seated position
- Persists despite pain medication
- Worsens with walking, even with a cane or walker
What are the risks of surgery?
The complication rate following hip replacement surgery is very low. Serious complications occur in less than 2% of patients. As with any major medical procedure, patients are at risk of complications including:
- Blood clots
- Change in leg length
- Dislocation
- Fracture
- Implant wear and loosening
- Second hip replacement
How long will my recovery be?
To learn what to expect with your hip replacement surgery, watch our Total Hip Replacement Education video and download our Total Hip Replacement Education Manual (pdf).
Meet Our Care Team
Leighton Miller, FNP-BC, MSN
Orthopedics
“I grew up as a farm kid, so caring for things has always been a passion of mine. It was easy to transition that into caring for individuals.”
Leighton Miller has an extensive history in medicine. He spent five years as the Director of Nursing Services for Meade District Hospital and is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. He has provided care to patients from pediatrics to geriatrics and received his nursing degree from the University of Kansas School of Nursing. Leighton has served as a nurse in different family practice, ER, labor/delivery and acute care departments throughout his career.
“I thought about becoming a physician at first but I got to know a lot of nurses and that drove my passion into that field,” he said. “I got to know some nurse practitioners. That was a logical stepping stone and I haven’t regretted a single day.”
What would Leighton like his patients to know about him?
“I’m not a serious guy but I’m serious about healthcare. When it’s time to have fun, I have fun. When it’s time to get down to business, we take care of business. Doing so and enjoying life along the way is what’s important.”
