For our aging population total hip arthroplasty (THA) has become one of the most commonly performed elective procedures in the United States. Many times patients with a degenerative hip disorder present with bilateral hip involvement that may require surgical intervention. Bilateral hip disease is a frequent diagnosis that can occur in a substanital amount of people with hip osteoarthrosis.
Bilateral hip replacement can be performed in two ways simultaneous bilateral hip replacement or staged replacements. In recent years simultaneous bilateral hip replacement has become more common as there are pros and potential cons for each. Simultaneous bilateral hip replacement occurs when both hips are replaced at the same time under one surgical episode. This requires one procedure, one episode of anesthesia, a shorter recovery period, a shorter hospital stay, and a reduction in cost. Staged bilateral hip replacement occurs during two separate procedures typically a few months apart often allowing the patient to fully recover from the first replacement.
Bilateral hip replacement is a cost effective procedure that allows patients to address both hips at the same time under one surgical procedure with one recovery period however not everyone is a candidate. The rehabilitation process is also typically shorter for simultaneous versus staged bilateral hip replacement however it is usually more intense. There are numerous factors that will be evaluated and discussed during your appointment with Dr. Buch to determine if you are a candidate for bilateral hip replacement.