Total Hip Replacement Baltimore MD for Fractures and Arthritis

A damaged hip joint can make everyday activities such as walking difficult.  Two common causes of damage to a hip joint are a hip fracture and arthritis.  Often, a total hip replacement Baltimore MD is needed to provide relief.

Total hip replacement Baltimore MD to treat fractures

Your hip is a ball and socket joint.  A hip fracture is when there is a break in the bone that has the “ball” part of the joint, called the femur.  The majority of hip fractures happen in people who are over age 60 and falls are the most common cause.  Overtime, bones become thinner and weaker from calcium loss (called osteoporosis) and that is often a factor in hip fractures.  Symptoms of a hip fracture that may need total hip replacement surgery Baltimore include: hip pain, low back pain, inability to stand or walk, and bruising and swelling.

If the fracture is 3-4 inches away from the joint, it will most likely be treated with surgery that places metal devices at the break to stabilize and strengthen the joint.  Hip fractures that are closer to the joint sometimes need hip replacement surgery Baltimore.

Arthritis can require hip surgery Baltimore

The most common type of arthritis to affect the hips is osteoarthritis.  Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that causes the breakdown of cartilage.  Symptoms of osteoarthritis that may need hip replacement surgery Baltimore include pain and limited range of motion in the hips.  Before doing hip surgery Baltimore, your doctor will try to treat osteoarthritis of the hip with medicine, physical therapy, and assistive devices.

Total hip replacement surgery Baltimore

A hip fracture or arthritis in the hip that cannot be treated with other methods may need hip replacement surgery Baltimore.   During this procedure, your total hip replacement doctor Baltimore removes the damaged parts of your joint and replaces them with a prosthesis.  After the 3-6 month recovery time, most people have more movement and less pain in their hip.  The artificial joints usually last 15 or more years, but you will have to be careful to avoid falls and other activities that may injure the joint.