Online Patient Resources 
 
     

Patient Education





  • Artificial Hip Dislocation Precautions     PDF Booklet
  • Artificial Joint Replacement of the Hip     PDF Booklet
  • Avascular Necrosis of the Hip     PDF Booklet
  • Compression Fixation for a Fractured Hip     PDF Booklet
  • Hemiarthroplasty of the Hip     PDF Booklet
  • Hip Anatomy     PDF Booklet
  • Hip Fractures     PDF Booklet
  • Hip Pinning Surgery for a Fractured Hip     PDF Booklet
  • Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty     PDF Booklet
  • Osteoarthritis of the Hip     PDF Booklet
  • Rehabilitation Following Hip Fracture Surgery     PDF Booklet
  • Revision Arthroplasty of the Hip     PDF Booklet
  • Stress Fracture of the Hip     PDF Booklet
  • Trochanteric Bursitis of the Hip     PDF Booklet
  • Trochanteric Bursitis Surgery     PDF Booklet
  • Related News Articles

  • Return to Sports After Treatment for Snapping Hip Syndrome
  • Osteoporosis and Type of Hip Fracture in Parkinson Disease
  • Young, Active Patients With Hip Pain
  • What to Do to Protect Your Hips
  • Treatment of Fatigue Fracture of the Bilateral Femoral Neck
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Joint Replacement
  • Osteoporosis Treatment Rates Rise With Orthopedic Surgeon Playing Active Role
  • Review of Repairs for Intertrochanteric Fractures
  • Success of Hip Replacement Based on Age and Type of Implant Used
  • Major Challenge in the Treatment of Osteoporosis
  • Chronic Hip Pain: An Undiagnosed Problem
  • The High Cost of Hip Dislocation After Joint Replacement
  • Evidence-Based Approach to Hip Fractures
  • What To Do About A Squeaking Hip Replacement
  • What Is Causing Squeaking in Hip After Joint Replacement?
  • Accuracy of Clinical Tests to Identify Hip Arthritis
  • Low Cost Method of Screening For Infection of Total Hip Replacement
  • Regaining Equal Leg Strength After Hip Fracture
  • Activity After Total Hip Replacement
  • Femoral Neck Fracture After Hip Joint Resurfacing
  • Are the Extremely Elderly Really At Greater Risk of Hip Fracture?
  • Adjusting Orthopedic Treatment for Unstable Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures
  • Cost and Effectiveness of Home-Based Rehab After Joint Replacement
  • Update on Hip Resurfacing Using Metal-on-Metal Implants
  • Can Older Adults Benefit From Hip Joint Resurfacing?
  • Predicting Survival After Hip Fracture
  • The Importance of Surgical Timing After Hip Fracture
  • Factors That Explain Disability in Patients with Hip Osteoarthritis
  • How Reliable is Muscle Testing for the Osteoarthritic Hip?
  • Influence of Pain on Function After Total Hip Replacement
  • Differential Diagnosis of Lateral Hip Pain: Clinical Tests Compared to MRI Results
  • Faster Recovery After Total Hip Replacement Based on Type of Incision
  • Metal-on-Metal Hip Resurfacing Viable Option for Younger Patients
  • Dramatic Change in Surgery for Hip Fracture
  • Rehab Protocol for Hip Resurfacing
  • Rate of Hip Dislocation Higher After Conversion From Hemiarthroplasty to Total Hip Replacement
  • No Need For Rehab Program Based on Type of Hip Fracture
  • Update on Treatment for Femoral Fractures That Don't Heal
  • Clinical Exam for Hip Pain
  • Physical Therapy Home Care After Hip Fracture
  • Review of Hip Resurfacing for Young Active Adults
  • Review of Total Hip Replacements for Obese and Geriatric Adults
  • Report of Rare Gorham's Disease
  • Treatment for Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures
  • Review of Small-Incision Approaches to Hip Replacement
  • Hip Range of Motion Helpful in Evaluating Patient Outcome after Total Hip Arthroplasty
  • Early Weight Bearing Does Not Appear to Increase Risk of Loosening in Uncemented Cementless Hip Replacement
  • Search for Cause of Hip Arthrokatadysis
  • Review of Pathophysiology and Treatment of Osteonecrosis of the Hip
  • Patients with Perthes Disease May Benefit from Metal-on-Metal Hip Resurfacing
  • Carefully Selected Patients Can Benefit from Total Hip Resurfacing
  • Hip Arthroscopy Appears safe, Effective for Management of Hip Disorders
  • Review of Rare Femoral Fracture Pattern
  • Unique Complication After Hip Resurfacing
  • Report on Second Generation Total Hip Resurfacing Implants
  • High Cross-Linked Polyethylene Liners in Hip Replacements May Experience Fatigue Damage
  • Review of Trochanteric Osteotomy in Total Hip Replacement
  • Ceramic Femoral Heads Age Over Time
  • Squeaking with a Total Hip Replacement
  • Using X-rays to Diagnose Hip Impingement
  • Preconditioning Appears to Play Significant Role in Recovery from Hip Replacement
  • Anatomic Changes in the Hip May Cause Impingement
  • Failure Rates Decrease with Hip Resurfacing for Young Arthritic Patients
  • Finding Out More About Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
  • Get Better Results with Joint Replacements at Specialty Hospitals
  • Metal-on-Metal Resurfacing for Hips Showing Good Results So Far
  • Hip Motion Restored to Normal with Hip Resurfacing
  • Ultrasound Plus Injection of Anesthetic Helps Relieve Pain of Snapping Hips
  • Conversion from Resurfacing to Total Hip Arthroplasty
  • Risk of Fracture with Skylight Sign
  • Walking as a Sign of Recovery After Total Hip Replacement
  • Advice to Surgeons About Hip Resurfacing
  • What Do We Know About Patients Who Have Hip Replacements?
  • Pseudotumor from Polyethylene Wear Debris
  • Improving Screw Fixation In Hip Fracture
  • Real-Time Ultrasound Identifies Causes of Snapping Hip Syndrome
  • Hemiarthroplasty or Total Hip Replacement for Hip Fracture?
  • Pain Relief at the Bone Graft Site
  • Reducing Bone Loss Through Femoral Stem Design
  • Total Hip Replacement: What Do Patients Prefer?
  • Caution Advised with Hip Resurfacing
  • Medical Problems After Joint Replacement
  • Treating Bone Deficiencies During Hip Replacement Revision
  • Joint Replacements Trigger Some, But Not All, Airport Security Systems
  • American Surgeons Slow to Embrace Hip Resurfacing
  • Cemented and Uncemented Hip Replacements: Surgeons Must Do Both
  • New Gold Standard in Hip Replacement
  • Rare Complication of Total Hip Replacement
  • Reducing Complications with Two-Incision Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery
  • Activity Reduces Bone Loss After Total Hip Replacement
  • Fractures After Hip or Knee Replacement
  • Uncemented Hip Replacements in Younger, Active Patients
  • Physical Therapists Offer Help for Hip Osteoarthritis
  • Hip Joint Resurfacing Gains Popularity Again
  • Results of Rehab for Primary and Revision Hip Replacement
  • Results of Acetabular Reconstruction for Severe Hip Problems
  • Looking Back to Find Hip Labral Tears
  • Charnley Hip Replacements Stand the Test of Time
  • Choosing the Right Patient for Hip Arthroscopy
  • Fracture After Hip Replacement
  • Unilateral Hip Dysplasia Usually Bilateral
  • Treatment Options for Femoral Neck Fractures
  • Endoscopic Release of the Iliotibial Band for Snapping Hip Syndrome
  • Total Hip Replacement in Patients with Severe Bone Defects
  • Predicting Results of Hip Replacement Revision
  • Hip Fracture in the Elderly: Repair or Replace?
  • Latest Statistics on Hip Fractures
  • Tracking Recovery After Hip Fracture
  • Preventing Blood Clots Before and During Total Hip Replacement All That's Needed
  • Improving Outcome of Rehab After Hip Fracture
  • Review of Leg Length Changes After Hip Replacement
  • First Report on Nine Cases of "Frozen" Hip
  • Physical Therapy Helps After Hip or Knee Replacement
  • Looking Back Improves Treatment of Hip Fractures
  • Mayo Clinic Investigates Nerve Palsy After Hip Replacement
  • Unique Timing of Double Hip Replacements
  • Thigh Pain After Total Hip Replacement
  • Surgeons at Mayo Clinic Compare Methods of Total Hip Replacement
  • Regional Anesthesia Replacing General in Hip Surgery
  • Results of Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement: Too Soon to Tell?
  • Results of 1000 Mini-Incision Hip Replacements
  • Advisory Statement for Surgeons
  • Should Doctors Withhold Hip Replacement Surgery From Obese Patients?
  • Hip Fracture? Consider a Home Physical Therapy Program
  • Minimally Invasive Means Less Tissue Trauma With Hip Replacement
  • Gentle Yoga Reduces Risk of Falls in Older Adults
  • First Report of Major Problem After Mini-Incision for Hip Replacement
  • Long-Term Success of Joint Replacement Reported in Osteopetrosis
  • Spinal Fractures Not All They Are Cracked Up to Be
  • Extra Physical Therapy Restores Function after Hip Fracture
  • Knee Injuries Associated with Hip Dislocation
  • Shorter Hospital Stay for Total Hip Replacement Saves Money
  • Thirty-Year Study on Hip Replacements Helps Doctors Plan
  • Steps To Measure Life of Joint Implant
  • Shooting from the Hip after Graft Donation for Spinal Fusion
  • When Minimally Invasive is Too Invasive
  • No Short Cuts to Hip Replacement Surgery
  • Does Minimally Invasive Surgery Speed Up Recovery after Total Hip Replacement?
  • Preventing Pelvic Clots after Total Hip Replacement
  • Think Twice about Ginkgo Biloba When Considering Total Hip Replacement
  • Precautions after Total Hip Replacement: Have We Gone Too Far?
  • The Long and Short of Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery
  • Importance of Home Exercises after Hip Replacement
  • Recovering Rapidly after Hip Replacement
  • Training Surgeons for New Hip Replacement Method
  • Hip Replacement Best for Displaced Hip Fracture
  • Improved Technology Helps Physicians Diagnose Hip Problems
  • Death Rate Goes Up When Surgery Is Delayed for Hip Fracture
  • Safe Return to Sexual Activity after Hip Replacement
  • Sticker Shock on a New Hip Joint
  • Total Hip Replacement after an Unhealed Hip Fracture
  • Long-Term Effects of Obesity on Knee Joint Replacement
  • Soldiers and Hip Stretches
  • Silver Anniversary of Hip Osteotomy for Severe Arthritis
  • High Volume of Hip Replacements Linked with Better Outcome
  • Not All Hip Fractures are Alike
  • New Mini-Incision Not All It's Cut Out to Be
  • Physical Therapists Explore Joint Motion as a Sign of Hip Osteoarthritis
  • New Mini-Incision Not All It's Cut Out to Be
  • New Phase of Exercise Advised Four Months after Hip Replacement
  • True Merit of a Mini-Incision THR
  • Patients Do Best after Hip Replacement Surgery by Getting Advice Ahead of Time
  • Helping Patients Get Back on Their Feet after Hip Fracture
  • Scoping Out Sources of Hip Pain
  • Scoping Out a Unique Cause of Hip Pain
  • What Time Is the Right Time for THR?
  • Locating the Best Approach for Total Hip Replacement Surgery
  • Cold Treatment Relieves Pain after Total Hip Replacement
  • Hip Osteoarthritis in Men Reduces Motion and Function
  • Understanding the Unstable Total Hip Replacement
  • Understanding Dislocation after Total Hip Replacement
  • How to Take Away Pain after Total Hip Replacement
  • Improving Results of Total Hip Replacement in the Under-50 Crowd
  • Cruisin' for a Hip Fusion
  • Medicinal Prevention of Heterotopic Ossification after Total Hip Replacement Surgery
  • Bandage Surgery for Total Hip Replacement
  • Long-Term Results of Total Hip Replacement Surgery
  • Shallow Hip Socket Linked to Osteoarthritis
  • Rehab on the Treadmill after Hip Replacement Surgery
  • Does Time in the Hospital Affect Problems after Hip Replacement?
  • What Did You Expect? Patients' Expectations before Total Hip Replacement
  • Comparing Hip Replacements with and without Special Coating
  • Hybrid Total Hip for Developmental Hip Dysplasia
  • Choosing the Best Treatment after Hip Fracture: Fixation or Joint Replacement
  • Returning Motion to a Fused Hip
  • Educated Patients Fare Best after Hip Replacement Surgery
  • Finding Hip Joint Implants That Last
  • Fitting a Straight Stem into a Curved Bone during Total Hip Replacement
  • Radiation to Prevent Abnormal Bone Growth after Total Hip Replacement
  • Should Mrs. Jones Have a Hip Joint Replacement Using the Posterior Approach?
  • X-Ray Limitations for Hidden Bone Problems after Total Hip Replacement
  • Robots on the Cutting Edge
  • Costs Outweigh Payments for Revised Hip Replacement
  • Guidelines for Driving after Total Hip Replacement
  • The Immune System Blamed for Loosening of Hip Implant
  • Laser Scanning May Help Prevent Failed Hip Replacement Revisions
  • The Effect of Sterilization on Long-Term Wear of an Artificial Hip Joint
  • Knee OA Treatment May Work for Hip OA, Too
  • There's No Place Like Home to Heal Hip Fractures
  • Improved Bone Union after Total Hip Replacement Surgery
  • Uncemented Total Hip Joints Revised with Cement
  • Uncemented Total Hip Joints Revised with Cement
  • Choosing a Hip Replacement: Ceramic or Metal?
  • New Way to Restore a Flattened Hip Ball
  • New CT Scan Measures Bone Loss around the Hip Socket
  • News For Patients Planning for a Total Hip Replacement
  • The Challenge of Treating Hip Osteonecrosis in Young Adults
  • New Use for PET Scans in Patients with New Hips
  • Understanding Body Temperature Changes after Total Hip Replacement Surgery
  • Comparison of Two Approaches for Implanting a New Hip Joint
  • Doctors' Advice for Back and Leg Symptoms after Total Hip Replacement
  • Adding a New Dimension to Study Hip Joint Implants
  • Fifteen-Year Results of Cementless Total Hip Replacement
  • Technical Note on Trochanteric Osteotomy During Total Hip Replacement Surgery
  • The Unfolding of Joint Plica
  • Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Works for Piriformis Syndrome
  • Study of Hip Joint Replacements in Adults Younger Than 50
  • Hip Replacement after Hip Fracture
  • Options When a Ceramic Hip Replacement Breaks
  • Special Hip Socket Implant Helps Prevent Hip Dislocation
  • Cement Extrusion During Total Hip Joint Replacement: Measurement and Incidence
  • Total Hip Replacement Improves Sleep in Arthritis Sufferers
  • Surgeons Take an Extra Step to Improve Muscle Strength after Hip Replacement Surgery
  • Good Results with Extra-Large, Press-Fit Cups for Acetabular Revision
  • Effect of Hip Replacement Design in Reducing Hip Dislocation
  • Update on Osteonecrosis and Hip Joint Replacement
  • New Surgical Developments in Hip Dysplasia
  • Hip Revision For Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Get Better Faster by Starting an Exercise Program before Getting a New Hip
  • A Loose Hip Responds to the Right Surgery
  • Navigation System Improves Mini-Incision Hip Replacement
  • Accounting for Differences in Rates of Wear Between Identical Hip Joint Implants
  • Dehydration Slows Rehabilitation after Joint Replacement and Hip Fracture Surgery
  • Preheating Hip-Joint Implants Maximizes the Effect of Joint Cement
  • Total Hip Replacement for Diastrophic Dysplasia
  • Best Choice for Replacing a Damaged Femoral Head
  • Mixing Antibiotics with Joint Cement to Reduce Infection with Joint Replacement Surgery
  • Research Helps Doctors Choose the Best Surgical Tools for Hip Replacements
  • A New Hip for the Adult Who had a Childhood Hip Infection
  • Counting on a Total Hip Replacement
  • Counting on a New Hip Joint
  • Hip Fracture after Age 90
  • Cross Words for Puzzling Thigh Pain after a New Hip Joint
  • Hip News for Patients and Doctors Fooled by "Back Pain"
  • Boning Up to Improve Function after Hip Fracture
  • Dislocated a New Hip--Lately?
  • The Best Time for Hip Replacement Surgery Is . . . Still Unclear
  • Withholding Cement Helps Hold Some New Hip Joints
  • Thinking Small in Hip Replacement Surgery
  • Hip Tips for Hockey Players
  • Death to the Tip of the Hip
  • Electric Recovery after Hip Surgery
  • Changing a Fused Hip to a New Hip Joint
  • For the Young at Hip
  • Making Bones about a Hip Fracture
  • Simple Snip for Snapping Hip
  • One New Hip, One Year Later
  • Safety Outweighs Savings in Hip Surgery
  • Runners Are Hip, Especially When They Stretch
  • Keeping New Hips in the Socket: A Plug for Prevention
  • Hips Snap Back into Shape
  • Walking It Off: Early Walking Predicts Short-Term Results from Hip Surgery
  • Need a Hip Replacement? Who Ya Gonna Call?
  • Arthritic Hips Out of Rhythm: New Rhyme for the Reason
  • Goochy, Goochy, Goo: It's a Brand New Baby--and Hip Joint, Too!
  • Primary Osteoarthritis: What Is It?
  • Leg-Length Difference in the Elderly: How Much Is a Problem?
  • Cha-Ching! The Total Cost for a Hip Fracture Is ...
  • Take Heart, Seniors--You Can Recover from Leg Fractures
  • Elderly People Are Hip, Except When They Fall
  • Doctor, Can I Play Tennis after My Hip Replacement Surgery?
  • FAQs

  • Is there any connection between leukemia and metal implants used for joint replacement? I know it sounds like a long shot but my father was just diagnosed with leukemia. His blood work has shown elevated levels of chromium in the past. The doctor always thought this was from his metal hip joint replacement but didn't think it was a problem. Could there be a link?
  • Can a stretching program lower the chances that my elderly mother will fall?
  • My legs are slightly different lengths. Is this normal?
  • Is a difference in leg length a problem for an older person?
  • I recently had hip surgery, and now my legs seem to be different lengths. Is this normal?
  • I am going in to have hip replacement surgery. Will I be able to kneel down to work in my garden once my hip heals? What about getting on my hands and knees in the garden?
  • I am going in to have hip replacement surgery. How soon can I get back to the things I enjoy?
  • Why are people with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip encouraged to exercise?
  • I've heard that my chances of getting hip arthritis are less if I live in the South. Is this true?
  • When I was a child, I had severe rheumatoid arthritis. Because there was so much damage to my hip joints, I have had both hips replaced. Both joints were replaced using cement. Now I am pregnant with my first child. Will it be safe to breast-feed the baby with the chemicals from the cement in my body?
  • I've had a hip problem since birth called congenital hip dysplasia. The hip socket was not formed completely, and my hip slips in and out of the joint. This causes a lot of pain and affects my walking. My doctor is advising me to have the hip replaced, but I'm only 26 years old. If I have a hip replacement, should I not get pregnant?
  • I am having a hip replacement. My surgeon has good training but said he doesn't do a lot of these procedures. Should I be worried?
  • I need to have a hip replacement. There's a small hospital nearby, or I could travel to a bigger hospital to have the surgery. I'd rather not make the long trip. Does it matter where I go?
  • I am having hip replacement surgery. How can I decrease my chances of dislocating my new hip?
  • Last year I was diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis. The X-rays show it is in the early stages. Even so, I have had considerable hip pain and can't walk without limping. I started using a cane, which seems to help with the hip pain, but now I am having low back pain. Could the cane be causing this?
  • I am only 54 years old, but already I'm noticing changes in the way I walk. I can't seem to put my full weight into my left hip without twinges of pain. Is there anything I can do about this? I don't want to lose any more ground.
  • I am a 53-year-old woman actively involved in the mall-walking program. A group of us meets three times a week at the local mall to walk two miles. Should I buy a pair of walking shoes, or can I just use my regular everyday shoes?
  • I like to jog every day for exercise. I usually run between five and six miles, five or six days a week. Is there any connection between running and developing arthritis?
  • I read an article about hip fractures in the elderly. No specific ages were mentioned. What is considered "elderly" these days?
  • My father fell and broke his hip two days ago. The hospital staff says he can go home as soon as he can "transfer" by himself. What does this mean?
  • Last week, my 83-year-old mother broke her hip. She is still in the hospital, and we are trying to make plans for when she gets out. How can we tell if she should return home or go to a nursing home?
  • My doctor tells me I have a mild case of heterotropic ossification, but my pain and limited function tell me it's severe. What's the difference between mild and severe from the doctor's point of view?
  • I got heterotropic ossification after a total hip replacement. I'm still recovering from the hip surgery. What's the treatment for this new problem?
  • I'm going to have a total hip replacement. Will this affect my golf swing much?
  • I had my hip fused because of a fracture that wouldn't heal. About six weeks after the operation, my back pain went away. I've had back pain for almost 10 years. Is there a connection here?
  • I'm 42-years old and have one very bad hip. For some unknown reason my right hip is deteriorating. I know I'm too young for a hip replacement. Is there anything that can give me relief from the pain and a chance to keep my active lifestyle?
  • My doctor has suggested a hip fusion for me. I'm a little hesitant about doing it. Are there any reasons I shouldn't have this operation?
  • I'm 40-years old and in need of a hip replacement. My doctors says I must wait until I'm at least 50 because the implants don't last more than 15 0r 20 years. Is there really that much difference in the results between patients my age and older patients?
  • I'm 35 years old, and I've had severe hip arthritis from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. I've been told I can't get a hip replacement for years yet. Why is that? Shouldn't something be done sooner than later?
  • I had a hip replacement that's gone bad. The doctor says the "PE" is worn thin and cracked and must be replaced. I looked on the internet but all I found was pulmonary embolism for PE. I can't find anything about the hip. What is this?
  • I'm more than a little nervous. After having a total hip replacement, I ended up with a blood clot in my leg. I know these things can go to the lungs and kill you. Now I'm going to have an operation to fuse my spine. Will I get a blood clot every time I have surgery?
  • I'm a 46-year old man with severe hip osteoarthritis. I've always been active, but now the pain gets in the way. I can't help but wonder how my hip function compares to other guys my age without arthritis. Is there any way to find out?
  • I've applied for a disability pension because of severe hip pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis. I work as a plumber and just can't get in and out of tight spaces anymore. Will I be approved?
  • I have hip osteoarthritis on the left side. I notice I can stand on that leg and balance much better than I can on the other side without arthritis. Does this make sense?
  • I had a total hip replacement last year. The first few days after the operation were very painful. I don't like using drugs. Is there any other way to control the pain?
  • I'm getting ready to have a hip replacement. The doctor is going to use the "posterior" approach. I've been told this method allows the doctor to see almost half of the joint at one time. There is a risk of hip dislocation. How common are these dislocations?
  • I was in a car accident and broke my pelvis in two places. After the injury finally healed, I still had deep groin pain and my hip kept giving out on me. I had MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans done for my pelvis, and nothing ever showed up. Finally, I had arthroscopic surgery and the doctor found a tear in the ligamentum teres. Where is this and why doesn't it show up on all these tests?
  • My 78-year old father took a misstep off a ladder and hurt his hip. It wasn't broken or dislocated, but he tore a ligament inside the hip socket. How often does this type of injury occur?
  • I had a bad twisting injury while skiing last season. After four months of constant groin pain I went to see a surgeon. He did arthroscopic surgery and repaired a torn ligament (ligamentum teres) in my hip. He explained how this ligament goes between the top of the hipbone into the socket to help hold it together. How does the surgeon get to this ligament to repair it?
  • I had a total hip replacement last year. The first few days after the operation were very painful. I don't like using drugs. Is there any other way to control the pain?
  • When I had my knee replaced the therapists used cold therapy on it everyday. It really seemed to help with the pain and swelling. I just had a hip replacement. The cold treatment was never used on the hip. How come?
  • A year ago I had a total hip replacement done. Last week I was out gardening on my hands and knees and it dislocated. I thought I was all healed. What happened?
  • I'm getting ready to have a hip replacement. The doctor is going to use the "posterior" approach. I've been told this method allows the doctor to see almost half of the joint at one time. There is a risk of hip dislocation. How common are these dislocations?
  • If I got this straight, it sounds like the doctor will actually dislocate my hip when putting in a new hip joint replacement. Is that true?
  • My uncle fell and broke his hip last month. He's been home on his own for a few weeks. We're concerned about his safety home alone. Shouldn't he be doing some kind of exercises for his hip or at least to stay active?
  • My elderly mother fell and broke her hip last week. She will be coming home in a few more days. The therapist says she must be able to go up and down stairs before they release her. She doesn't even have stairs at her house. What's the point of this exercise?
  • I'm a little confused about something. Two years ago I fell and broke my hip. I had a hip replacement. The doctor told me I couldn't put my full weight on that leg for six weeks because the implant wasn't cemented in place. My sister just fell and broke her leg and only had to have a cast. She can't put her full weight on it either. Why not?
  • My father had his second total hip replacement this year. After the first hip replacement he got a condition called "heterotopic ossification" (HO). The doctor put him on indomethacin after the second hip was replaced. This is to prevent the HO. Dad's not handling this drug very well. Can we use something else?
  • I've been told repeatedly that I'm "too young" for a hip replacement. I'm 51-years old and can no longer enjoy the activities I once did for fun because of severe hip pain. Isn't what I'm missing out today important enough to warrant a hip replacement now?
  • I was in a car accident and broke my pelvis in two places. After the injury finally healed, I still had deep groin pain and my hip kept giving way. I had MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans done for my pelvis and nothing ever showed up. Finally I had arthroscopic surgery and the doctor found a tear in the ligamentum teres. Where is this and why doesn't it show up on all these tests?
  • My 78-year old father took a misstep off a ladder and hurt his hip. It wasn't broken or dislocated, but he tore the ligament holding the hipbone in the socket. How often does this type of injury occur?
  • I had a bad twisting injury while skiing last season. After four months of constant groin pain I went to see the doctor. He did arthroscopic surgery and repaired a torn ligament (teres) in my hip. He explained how this ligament goes between the top of the hipbone into the socket to hold it together. How does the doctor get to this ligament to repair it?
  • Comment to post.
  • Last year I had a left total hip replacement. I'm finally feeling better and getting back to my old activities. Why don't they warn patients about how much pain and loss of function occurs with this operation?
  • After seeing my two sisters get a total hip replacement I decided to take my doctor's advice and have mine done, too. They both seem to have had such a good result, while I'm still struggling with pain and stiffness. Why the difference?
  • My 80-year old mother broke her hip this morning. She's in the hospital waiting for surgery. When I looked on-line it seems there are two ways to treat this. One is with surgery to pin the fracture. The other is to replace the hip joint. How do we decide which is better?
  • My doctor advised me to keep doing my exercises for a year after my total hip replacement. Is this really necessary? I feel fine.
  • I had a total hip replacement almost a year ago. My pain is gone but I can't really do anything more than I did before the operation. Is this normal?
  • I used to enjoy doing Tai Chi before having a total hip replacement. Now I'm not sure it's safe to stand on one leg like that. What do you think?
  • What's the advantage of having a mini-operation for a total hip replacement besides a smaller scar?
  • I just had a total hip replacement last month. I was pretty dismayed when I saw how long the incision is--about 12 inches. I thought they could do this operation with a tiny opening now.
  • My doctor is going to include me in a study they are doing at their orthopedic center. I had a total hip replacement done with a mini-incision. They are going to compare patients with a mini-incision to patients with the standard cut. Maybe I'm a bit off in my thinking, but don't they just see what they want to find in studies like this?
  • I saw a videotape in my doctor's office showing two ways to do a total hip replacement. One had a much smaller incision than the other. How do they decide which method to use?
  • My mother really needs a hip replacement. We're worried she's not safe on her arthritic hip. She tells us she's old and may be gone at any time, so why bother? How can we get her to change her mind?
  • It seems like all my friends are getting hip or knee replacements. I've been told I need one, but I'm just not ready to jump in. Am I the only one holding out on this?
  • My mother is going to have a total hip replacement. She isn't getting around very well now. My siblings and I will take turns caring for her after the operation. Is there any way to tell how much help she'll need?
  • My father died six weeks after a total hip replacement. How can we tell if this was from the operation or something else?
  • My son-in-law is a doctor. He told me to get my hip replacement done at a high-volume hospital. What does this mean?
  • Eighteen months ago I had a left total hip replacement. Everything went well but now the left leg is shorter than the right side. Should I have the right leg done now to even them out?
  • My brother had an osteotomy of his hip done. It failed and now he's back to the doctor's to find out what to do. What's usually next after a failed osteotomy?
  • I had a hip osteotomy 10 years ago to put off having a joint replacement. Now I'm going in for a new hip joint. What will happen to the metal plate and screws they used to hold the osteotomy together?
  • The doctor says I'm too young (I'm 47) for a total hip replacement even though I have severe arthritis in one hip. What's the worst that could happen if I went ahead and had it done anyway?
  • I've been trying to stretch the muscles along the front of my hip. I do this by lying down on the floor and lift my leg up. First I do it with the knee straight. Then I do it with the knee bent. Whenever I do either one of these exercises, my low back hurts. How can I change the stretch to keep from hurting my back while still getting my leg stretched?
  • I sit at a computer all day and sometimes half the night. I'm worried about getting stooped and being unable to straighten my hips all the way. Can you tell me how to keep my full hip motion?
  • How come when I do my stretching exercises sometimes I feel looser and other times I just seem to get tighter?
  • My 76-year old aunt was put in the hospital for a hip fracture. She was doing just fine before the hospitalization. Now she is delirious and isn't herself at all. Is this the start of Alzheimer's?
  • There seems to be quite a few older adults in my family with hip fractures from osteoporosis. Is this a hereditary disease?
  • I just came back from the hospital where my father-in-law is being treated for a hip fracture. He was in a room with three other men who also just had surgery for a broken hip. All four men had to have a blood transfusion. I thought blood transfusions were dangerous. Is it a standard treatment with hip fractures?
  • My mother has an unstable intertrochanteric fracture. She's having a special set of pins and a plate put in place to hold it together. The doctor thinks she's too old and too unstable for a hip replacement. What kind of fracture is this?
  • My mother died from complications after a simple hip fracture last year. Does this happen very often?
  • My doctor is going to include me in a study they are doing at their orthopedic center. I had a total hip replacement done with a mini-incision. They are going to compare patients with a mini-incision to patients with the standard cut. Maybe I'm a bit off in my thinking, but don't they just see what they want to find in studies like this?
  • I saw a videotape in my doctor's office showing two ways to do a total hip replacement. One had a much smaller incision than the other. How do they decide which method to use?
  • I'd like to have my hip replacement done with the new "mini-incision." My regular doctor knows how to do these but hasn't done very many yet. Do I need to go to a big center to have this operation done safely?
  • The doctor sent me to a physical therapist for hip bursitis. I've had the same pain off and on for five years. After doing a lot of tests, the therapist seemed to think it could be arthritis. My internal rotation and hip flexion are especially limited in motion. How can I find out for sure if this is arthritis?
  • How can I tell if I have arthritis? Seems the older I get, the stiffer I am, and the more joint pain I notice.
  • My 82-year old mother had a new hip joint put in two years ago. After months of pain, the doctor says she needs a hip revision. The report says, "bead shedding" is the problem. What is this and how do we make sure she doesn't get it again?
  • What is a Charnley® hip? My orthopedic surgeon wants to replace my arthritic hip with one of these.
  • Is there any reason why a total hip replacement won't last me the rest of my life?
  • Please help us make a family decision. Our 72-year old father fell six months ago and broke his hip. He had surgery to put a plate and screws in place to hold it together while it healed. The bone hasn't healed. Should we wait another six weeks while waiting for bone healing, or should we go ahead with a joint replacement?
  • Can people with dementia have joint replacements? My mother needs a new hip joint but she has moderate Alzheimer's disease. Most of the time she is pretty good, but she has some days that are awful.
  • My grandma just turned 81-years old. I'm worried about her breaking a hip. That's how my Grandpa died. Is there a certain age when fractures are more likely to occur?
  • I read a magazine article that said older adults are more likely to die within a year of having a hip fracture. What's the connection?
  • I heard a report that older folks who break a hip on Sunday are more likely to die. Is there some religious significance to this?
  • I had a total hip replacement six weeks ago. The doctor warned me about avoiding certain positions to prevent dislocation. My husband is interested in resuming sexual relations, but I'm too worried about the hip coming out of the socket. How long should we wait before it's safe?
  • Three months ago, I had a total hip replacement. My doctor has given me the thumbs up for resuming sexual intercourse. What positions are best? Do I still need to avoid full hip flexion and internal rotation?
  • I had a total hip replacement six months ago that had to be revised. I was able to have sexual relations six weeks after my first operation. It's been six weeks now since the revision. Is it okay to try intercourse now?
  • My neighbor had a total hip replacement and started walking the same day. Not only that, he came home the same week. My surgery was only two years ago, but it was much different than that. Have things really improved that much in two years?
  • I moved here from Australia two years ago. I had a total hip replacement in Australia. Now I'm getting ready to have a total knee replacement. Is there a national registry for joint replacements in the United States like we have in Australia? If so, I'd like to read up on the latest findings.
  • I've heard it costs much less to have a hip replacement done in Canada compared to the United States. Is this true?
  • I am going to have a total hip replacement. The problem is that I don't have any health insurance. In other words, I'm paying for it myself. Are there any good ways to cut the costs without risking other problems?
  • I saw a report on TV showing the high demand for joint replacements in Korea and other countries outside the United States. Are we the only ones making joint implants?
  • What does a "scour test" show? I read a medical report on my son that said he had a positive scour test.
  • Is it true that once I have knee arthritis, I'll also get arthritis in my hips?
  • I had a hip replacement about two years ago. I notice I'm having more trouble now doing simple things like putting on my socks and shoes than even right after the surgery. What can I do about this?
  • My elderly mother had a hip replacement several months ago. She still isn't getting around very well. She was given some exercises to do but she can't seem to remember what they were. What can I do to help her?
  • My father had a hip replacement six months ago. He's still not doing the things he likes to do. For example, he can't go downtown and have breakfast with his buddies because he doesn't think he can get across the street fast enough. What can we (the family) do to help him?
  • My uncle had a total hip replacement with the new minimally invasive surgery. Within the first 24 hours of getting up and putting weight on the new joint, he fell and broke his hip. Is it possible damage to the bone during surgery caused the fracture?
  • I had a minimally invasive total hip replacement about a month ago. The doctor showed me photos of what to expect the scar to look like. I was expecting a two to three inch straight scar. Instead mine is curved and about four inches long. Why is my scar different from the photos I saw?
  • I saw a TV show about the new total hip replacements using only a two-inch incision. The report said the patient has just as good of results and a small scar to boot. What do the doctors say about this new way of doing things?
  • I work in the south as a nurse at a joint replacement clinic. I notice the greatest number of patients are white even though the general population here seems fairly equal between blacks, Hispanics, and whites. Don't blacks and Hispanics get arthritis?
  • My chronic hip pain has finally been diagnosed as a labral tear. The doctor thinks surgery is the only way to take care of this problem. Do I have any other options?
  • My 82-year old father is in an assisted living center. He was hospitalized two days ago for a broken hip bone. I guess it's what's called a displaced femoral fracture. He's had three specialists consult on the case. They can't seem to decide what's the best way to treat the problem. Is this unusual? Should we move him to a different hospital?
  • I'm writing to you from a hospital bed after tripping over a shoe lace and breaking my hip (a femoral neck fracture). I don't have much time before the nurses come in and scold me for being on the computer. Please tell me the pros and cons of having the bone pinned together versus having the joint replaced.
  • My 92-year old Nana broke her hip rolling over in bed. She has dementia and doesn't seem to know her leg is broken. The doctor doesn't want to operate and repair the fracture. Does this seem right? Isn't it discrimination of some sort?
  • I have been overweight all my life and now my hips are so bad with arthritis I need replacements. The doctor has told me to lose weight, but how much is enough?
  • My doctor went over the possible problems that can occur with a total hip replacement. I wasn't really listening very closely. Now that I'm almost ready to have the surgery done, I'm ready to hear it again. My doctor is going to use the new method with only two tiny incisions. What can go wrong?
  • Two years ago I had a total hip replacement. Now I'm ready to have the other one done. My doctor wants to put this second one in with a new operation. There will only be two small incisions made to insert the implant. I can't really ask my doctor this question, but I'm worried. How do you know when a doctor has done enough "new" operations to do a good job?
  • I've had two total hip replacements. The first was a full incision and took me six months to get back on my feet and up to speed. The second one was three weeks ago with two tiny cuts. I'm already walking without a walker for up to 30 minutes. I still have a little trouble with stairs but that seems to be coming. Is a smaller incision really all that makes the difference?
  • My father had a total hip replacement three weeks ago. He says he's ready to drive again and the doctor has approved it. We're very concerned. How can you tell when someone is really ready to drive after a hip replacement?
  • I just saw a nurse who explained what to expect after my total hip replacement. It sounds like I'll be using crutches at first. I've never used these before. Will I really be able to manage crutches after surgery when I'm not feeling well?
  • Have you ever heard of this? My aunt had hip surgery and then developed a weeping, oozing wound. The doctor said it was from taking ginkgo biloba.
  • I'm filling out a form for my doctor before having a total hip replacement. It asks me to list all drugs (prescription and over-the-counter). Do I need to report vitamins and herbal supplements too? There's no place on the form for that, but it seems important.
  • I'm going to have a hip replacement in two weeks. The nurse at my doctor's office told me to stop taking my ginkgo biloba. I think this herb really helps me remember things. I'm afraid to stop taking it when I really need my wits about me after the operation. What should I do?
  • I'm going to have a total hip replacement done next week. I've been told I'll be put on a blood thinner to prevent blood clots. Why are clots so common after hip surgery?
  • My doctor thinks I'm at risk for blood clots during hip surgery coming up. What puts me at greater risk than the next guy?
  • I've heard that if you're going to have a joint replacement it's best to go to a hospital or center where they do a lot of these operations. How many is enough to be safe?
  • I saw a report that joint replacements have better results when done by a surgeon with lots of experience with that operation. That makes sense. Is this the whole story or is there more to it?
  • Can back pain be caused by a hip problem? My doctor thinks my low back pain is really coming from the hip on that side.
  • My mother fell and broke her hip last year. She had surgery to repair it right away. Last month, her sister fell and also broke her hip. She didn’t have an operation to repair it at all. Why the difference?
  • My father had a stroke, lost his balance, and fell. He broke his hip as a result of the fall. The doctor called this a intertrochanteric fracture. What does this mean?
  • My 83-year old mother has been diagnosed with dementia. She has slowly declined in mental and physical abilities. She can no longer walk without a cane (indoors) or walker (outdoors). I’m worried about what will happen if she falls and breaks a hip. Will her dementia keep her from recovering?
  • Two years ago, I had a total hip replacement. Within six months of the surgery, I started having thigh pain on that side. It has never gone away. Can anything be done about this?
  • I am a small woman (5 feet 1 inch) with small bones. My doctor has advised me to have a total hip replacement for severe arthritis. Do they make new hip joints to fit people like me?
  • I'm a retired nurse about to have my first hip joint replacement. I'd like to stay active after surgery. What can I do after the operation?
  • I've heard the new smaller incisions for total hip replacement are getting mixed reviews. Some sources say it speeds up healing time. Others say it's not worth the risk in the long-run. What do surgeons say who are experienced in this method of joint replacement?
  • I'm comparing the costs of the usual surgery for total hip replacement with the new mini-incision method. It looks like I'll be in the hospital the same amount of time. Is there any difference in how much therapy I'll need between these two approaches?
  • I was looking into having a total hip replacement with the new mini-incision. The doctor's office gave me a list of people who don't qualify for this procedure. Doesn't seem like it left anyone who CAN have this operation. Where does that leave me?
  • I'm going to have a total hip replacement next week. The doctor is using the new tiny incision to do the operation. Will I be able to go home sooner with this type of incision?
  • My mother had a total hip replacement nine months ago. The surgeon made a very small opening to do the operation. She started dislocating the new hip two months later. She's dislocated it six times now. Can anything be done to help her?
  • I want to have the new hip joint surgery with only a small scar. What should I look for in the surgeon for the best results?
  • I'm writing to you from my husband's hospital room. He had a total hip replacement two days ago. The nurse says he can go home as soon as the lab values come back with acceptable hemoglobin levels. What does this tell them?
  • I'm having a total hip replacement done at a large university hospital. The surgeon tells me a doctor-in-training will do part of the operation. Is this safe? Would I be better off going somewhere else?
  • My 75-year old father had a total hip replacement six months ago. We live in a small town and he insisted on the new operation with the smallest incision possible. His own surgeon didn't do this surgery and sent him to someone else. He ended up in surgery for over nine hours. There were lots of problems after. Please warn your readers of the dangers of this operation.
  • My 81-year old father just had a hip joint replacement. We're worried because he isn't following the nurse's directions. He seems very confused. We're afraid he's going to do something and break the new joint.