Total hip replacement (THR), also called total hip arthroplasty, is an operation in which both parts of the hip joint - the ball and the socket - are replaced with an artificial joint. It is advised for advanced arthritis, avascular necrosis and some hip fractures, when pain and stiffness limit daily life and other treatments no longer help.
PMG Hospital (PMG Orthopedic Hospital), Gota, is an orthopedic hospital for total hip replacement in Ahmedabad. This page explains what total hip replacement involves, how it differs from partial replacement, who may need it, the procedure, implant options, replacing both hips, recovery, risks and cost factors.
What Is Total Hip Replacement?
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. In a total hip replacement, the damaged ball (femoral head) is removed and a metal stem is fixed into the thigh bone (femur), topped with a metal or ceramic ball. The worn socket (acetabulum) is prepared and lined with a cup - usually a metal shell holding a plastic or ceramic liner, or a plastic cup fixed with bone cement. The new ball moves smoothly inside the new socket.
Total vs Partial Hip Replacement
| Feature | Total hip replacement | Partial hip replacement (hemiarthroplasty) |
|---|---|---|
| What is replaced | Both the ball and the socket | Only the ball; the natural socket is kept |
| Usually suitable for | Arthritis, advanced avascular necrosis, a damaged socket, and fit, active patients with some hip fractures | Displaced femoral neck fractures with a healthy socket, mainly in older or less active patients |
| Operation | Longer | Shorter |
| Function in active patients | Generally better | May be less, and the natural socket can wear over time |
The choice depends on the condition of the socket, the cause of the problem, and the patient's age, activity and general health.
Related pages: Partial hip replacement·Hip replacement
Who May Need a Total Hip Replacement?
- Severe hip or groin pain from arthritis that limits walking, stairs or getting up from a chair
- Pain at rest or at night
- Stiffness, a limp, or difficulty putting on socks and shoes
- X-rays showing advanced arthritis, or collapse of the ball from avascular necrosis
- Some hip fractures in fit, active patients
A total hip replacement doctor in Ahmedabad - an orthopaedic surgeon - confirms with examination and X-rays whether a total replacement is needed.
Unless there is a fracture, treatments such as weight reduction, exercise, physiotherapy, pain-relief medicines, a walking stick and, in selected patients, injections are usually tried first. Surgery is advised when these no longer control pain or restore function. A total hip replacement treatment hospital should provide these non-surgical treatments as well as surgery.
When Surgery May Need to Be Delayed or Avoided
- An active infection anywhere in the body, until it has been treated
- Poorly controlled diabetes, blood pressure or other medical conditions, until they are better controlled
- Pain coming mainly from the spine rather than the hip
- Very poor general health, where the risks of surgery may outweigh the benefits
Total Hip Replacement Surgery in Ahmedabad: Step by Step
The main steps are similar in any total hip replacement surgery hospital in Ahmedabad:
- 1Anaesthesia: usually spinal anaesthesia (numbing the lower body), sometimes with a nerve block; general anaesthesia is used in some patients
- 2Approach: the hip is reached through a cut at the back, side or front of the hip, according to the patient and the surgeon's practice
- 3Preparing the femur: the damaged ball is removed and the thigh bone is prepared for the stem
- 4Preparing the socket: the worn cartilage is removed and the socket is shaped to fit the cup
- 5Fitting the implant: the cup, liner, stem and ball are fixed, with or without bone cement; the hip is checked for stability, movement and leg length
- 6Closure: the muscles and skin are closed and dressed
- 7After surgery: monitoring, pain relief, measures to prevent blood clots, and physiotherapy, often starting the same day or the next day
The operation usually takes about one to two hours, depending on the case.
Implant Options
Hip implants differ in how they are fixed to the bone and in the bearing surface - the materials of the ball and the liner that move against each other. The surgeon chooses according to age, bone quality, activity level and other factors.
| Feature | Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fixation | Cemented, uncemented (bone grows onto the implant) or hybrid | Cemented fixation is often used in older patients with weaker bone; uncemented fixation is often used in younger patients with good bone |
| Bearing surface | Metal or ceramic ball on a highly cross-linked polyethylene (plastic) liner | The most widely used bearings |
| Bearing surface | Ceramic ball on a ceramic liner (ceramic-on-ceramic) | Very low wear; rarely, squeaking or fracture of the ceramic can occur; used in selected patients |
| Cup design | Dual-mobility cup - a ball inside a larger, mobile plastic liner | May reduce the risk of dislocation in selected patients |
Metal-on-metal bearings are now rarely used because of problems related to the release of metal particles.
Can Both Hips Be Replaced at the Same Time?
| Feature | Both hips in one operation (simultaneous) | One hip at a time (staged) |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Both hips are replaced under the same anaesthesia | Each hip is replaced in a separate operation, usually some weeks or months apart |
| Hospital stay and recovery | One stay and one rehabilitation period | Two stays and two rehabilitation periods |
| Risk | Higher risk of blood loss, blood clots and other complications | Lower risk for each operation |
| Usually suitable for | Fit patients without significant heart, lung or other medical problems | Older patients or those with other medical conditions |
The decision is made after a fitness assessment by the surgeon and the anaesthetist.
Recovery After Total Hip Replacement
| Time | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Day of surgery or next day | Standing and first steps with a walker and the physiotherapist |
| First few days | Pain control, exercises, walking with support, stair practice; discharge when safe |
| Weeks 1–2 | Walking with support, wound care, stitches or staples removed when the wound has healed |
| Weeks 3–6 | Less need for support, home exercises, light daily activities |
| Around 6 weeks | Driving, once the surgeon allows it |
| 3–6 months | Strength and stamina continue to improve |
This is a general guide; recovery differs from person to person and is slower when both hips are replaced. Hip precautions, such as not bending the hip beyond a right angle and not crossing the legs, may be advised for the first several weeks, depending on the surgical approach. Blood-thinning medicines, leg exercises and early walking help to prevent blood clots.
How Long Does a Total Hip Replacement Last?
Large joint registry studies show that most total hip replacements are still in place without needing further surgery 15 to 20 years after surgery. How long an implant lasts depends on age, weight, activity level, bone quality and the implant. Over time, the liner can wear or the implant can loosen, and revision surgery may then be needed. Regular follow-up visits help to detect problems early.
Source: Evans JT et al. How long does a hip replacement last? The Lancet. 2019;393:647–654.
Related page: Revision hip replacement
Risks and Possible Complications
Total hip replacement is a common operation, but no surgery is without risk. The surgeon explains these risks before taking consent.
- Infection of the wound or around the implant, which may need further surgery
- Blood clots in the leg veins (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- Dislocation of the new hip, most often in the first few months
- Difference in leg length
- Injury to nerves or blood vessels, which is rare; the sciatic nerve is the nerve most at risk
- Fracture of the bone around the implant during or after surgery
- Loosening or wear of the implant over time, which may need revision surgery
- Extra bone formation in the muscles around the hip (heterotopic ossification), which can cause stiffness
- Continuing pain or a limp in some patients
- Anaesthesia-related and general medical risks, such as heart, lung or kidney problems, especially in older patients or those with other illnesses
Total Hip Replacement Surgery Hospital in Ahmedabad
Before choosing a total hip replacement hospital in Ahmedabad, check that the treating surgeon is a qualified orthopaedic surgeon with valid medical council registration, that the hospital regularly performs this operation, how infection is prevented, which implants and tests are available, what physiotherapy and follow-up are provided, and what the written estimate includes. You can also ask whether both hips can be replaced in one operation when it is suitable, and what fitness checks are done first.
Total Hip Replacement Surgery Cost in Ahmedabad
- The implant and bearing surface chosen
- Cemented or uncemented fixation
- One hip or both hips
- Length of hospital stay and room category
- Other medical conditions and any extra care needed
- Physiotherapy and follow-up
A written, itemised estimate can be requested from the hospital after assessment.
Insurance
- Medically necessary hip replacement is generally covered under health insurance policies, subject to policy terms, waiting periods and insurer approval
- Some policies have limits on room rent or implant costs; check these with your insurer before surgery
- Ask the hospital whether cashless treatment is available with your insurer, and which documents are needed
Total Hip Replacement Doctor in Ahmedabad
Total hip replacement is planned and performed by an orthopaedic surgeon, usually one who works regularly in joint replacement (arthroplasty). A family doctor may see the hip pain first, and other doctors and therapists help before and after the operation:
| Doctor or team member | Role in total hip replacement |
|---|---|
| Family physician | First check of hip or groin pain; refers to an orthopaedic surgeon when hip arthritis or avascular necrosis is suspected |
| Orthopaedic (joint replacement) surgeon | Confirms the diagnosis, advises non-surgical treatment or surgery, plans the implant, performs the operation and leads follow-up |
| Radiologist | Reports the X-rays, and the MRI or CT scan when needed, for example to detect early avascular necrosis |
| Anaesthetist | Checks fitness for surgery and gives spinal or general anaesthesia and pain relief |
| Physician or cardiologist | Assesses and helps control diabetes, blood pressure, heart or lung conditions before surgery |
| Physiotherapist | Teaches walking, exercises and hip precautions from the day of surgery or the next day |
Total Hip Replacement Surgery Doctor in Ahmedabad
Before agreeing to the operation, it is reasonable to ask your total hip replacement surgery doctor in Ahmedabad a few clear questions. The answers help you understand the plan for your hip and give informed consent.
- What do my X-rays show, and why is a total rather than a partial replacement advised for my hip?
- Which approach - back, side or front of the hip - will be used, and why?
- Will the implant be cemented, uncemented or hybrid in my case?
- Will I need to follow hip precautions, and for how long?
- How will leg length be checked, and what happens if there is a small difference afterwards?
- How will the risk of infection and blood clots be reduced before and after surgery?
- Which of my current medicines should I stop or continue before surgery?
- Whom should I contact if the hip suddenly gives way, the leg looks shorter or turned, or the wound leaks after discharge?
Orthopedic Hospital for Total Hip Replacement in Ahmedabad
The hospital where a total hip replacement is done should be able to operate under strict infection control, monitor the patient closely after surgery and start walking early. These are the facilities that matter most:
| Facility | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Operation theatre suitable for joint replacement, with strict infection-control practices | Infection around an implant is a serious complication |
| Anaesthesia services | Needed for spinal or general anaesthesia and nerve blocks for pain relief |
| X-ray and laboratory services | Needed for planning, pre-operative tests and checking the implant position |
| Blood transfusion support | Hip replacement, especially of both hips, can involve blood loss |
| Access to intensive care for high-risk patients | Older patients and those with heart or lung disease may need closer monitoring |
| Physiotherapy | Walking and exercises often start on the day of surgery or the next day |
| Follow-up arrangements | Regular checks help to detect wear, loosening or other problems early |
The facilities available at PMG Hospital are listed further below on this page.
Treating Surgeon
At PMG Hospital, total hip replacement is performed by:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Dr. Hiren Patel |
| Qualification | MS (Ortho), B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad |
| Specialty | Orthopaedics |
| Designation | Director & Head Joint Replacement Surgeon, PMG Hospital |
| Registration status | Registered Medical Practitioner |
| Registration number | Gujarat Medical Council Reg. No. G-20583 |
| OPD availability | Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
Facilities at PMG Hospital
- Orthopaedic OPD, Monday to Saturday
- Emergency and trauma care, 24×7
- Orthopaedic physiotherapy centre
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a doctor about total hip replacement?
See an orthopaedic surgeon if hip or groin pain limits walking, stairs or sleep, if the hip is stiff, or if medicines, exercises and physiotherapy no longer help. The surgeon examines the hip and X-rays to decide whether a total hip replacement or continued non-surgical treatment is suitable.
What is total hip replacement?
Total hip replacement replaces both the ball (femoral head) and the socket (acetabulum) of the hip. The ball is replaced with a metal stem and a metal or ceramic ball, and the socket is lined with a cup - usually a metal shell holding a plastic or ceramic liner, or a plastic cup fixed with bone cement.
Do I need a total or a partial hip replacement?
A total hip replacement is used when the socket is also damaged, as in arthritis and advanced avascular necrosis. A partial hip replacement replaces only the ball and is used mainly for certain hip fractures in which the socket is healthy. For fit, active patients with a hip fracture, a total hip replacement may be advised.
Which bearing surface is suitable for me?
There is no single bearing that suits everyone. The surgeon chooses the bearing according to age, activity level, bone quality and other factors. Metal or ceramic balls on highly cross-linked polyethylene liners are the most widely used; ceramic-on-ceramic is used in selected patients.
Can both hips be replaced at the same time?
Yes, in selected patients who are fit for a longer operation. Replacing both hips together means one hospital stay and one recovery period, but carries a higher risk of blood loss, blood clots and other complications. Replacing them some weeks or months apart may be safer for patients with other medical conditions.
How long does a total hip replacement last?
Large joint registry studies show that most total hip replacements are still in place without needing further surgery 15 to 20 years after surgery. How long an implant lasts depends on age, weight, activity level, bone quality and the implant. Regular follow-up helps detect wear or loosening early.
How long does recovery take?
Many patients walk with support on the day of surgery or the next day and go home after a few days. Light daily activities usually return over the first few weeks, driving after about six weeks once the surgeon allows it, and strength continues to improve over three to six months. Recovery differs from person to person.
What facilities should a hospital have for total hip replacement?
It should have an operation theatre suitable for joint replacement with strict infection-control practices, anaesthesia services, X-ray, laboratory tests, blood transfusion support, physiotherapy, access to intensive care for high-risk patients, and arrangements for follow-up.
What decides the cost of total hip replacement?
The cost depends on the implant and bearing surface, cemented or uncemented fixation, one hip or both, the length of hospital stay, room category, other medical conditions and physiotherapy. A written, itemised estimate can be requested from the hospital after assessment.
Contact and Location
PMG Hospital
3rd Floor, Athena Avenue, B/H Jaguar Showroom, Nr. Eulogia Inn Hotel, Gota, Ahmedabad, India
- Phone / WhatsApp:
- +91 96627 70141
- OPD:
- Mon – Sat · 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Emergency and trauma care:
- 24×7