Physical injuries and developmental conditions can be complex, especially if fractures, arthritis, or dislocations are involved. No one needs to live with pain and injury. Diagnosis and treatment are made even more accurate and advanced thanks to the availability of modern equipment and proper training. Finding a way to treat hip or replacement knee surgery is now more accessible. Both surgical and nonsurgical options are available.

Today’s healthcare facilities are equipped with cutting-edge equipment for medical treatment—even surgical treatments are made more effective and efficient. Patients looking for knee replacement or total hip arthroplasty in Singapore can expect a procedure with more efficiency than ever before.

Surgical treatment options can be an effective way to treat high pain injuries and conditions. Most people expect hip treatment (such as surgery replacement or reconstruction) to be painful and arduous. However, today’s hip surgeries can be in the form of minimally invasive techniques to improve your hip joint’s function without needing replacement surgery.

Understanding Hip Reconstruction Surgery

Hip reconstruction (as the name indicates) is a form of surgical process to repair a damaged joint via ‘reconstruction’. The procedure aims to restore your hip’s normal function while preserving as much of the natural tissues and bone in the affected area as possible. Hip reconstruction surgeries often occur in individuals where hip replacement surgery is an unsuitable solution.

Thus, getting a hip reconstruction is an ideal option for patients seeking an alternative hip replacement surgery in Singapore while being minimally invasive.

Without further ado, here are some of the most common hip construction procedures done by specialists/surgeons:

Open/closed reduction

Open or closed reduction is a form of bone surgery construction procedure to help realign the bone back to its place. Surgeons will conduct an open reduction to reposition the damaged piece or fractured bone via surgery. It is often advisable for people affected by conditions such as osteoporosis. You will need to inform an orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore for such treatment.

On the other hand, a surgeon will conduct a closed reduction to move the affected/damaged bone back into its right place without surgery or cutting the skin and exposing the bone area.

Bone grafting

Bone grafting is a hip construction procedure to treat complicated bone fractures by replacing the affected bone in the hip with another bone from the other part of the patient’s body. The bone grafting procedure becomes a primary option when the fracture is too complex enough to be treated with a closed or open reduction to reposition the broken piece.

Labrum reconstruction

Labrum reconstruction focuses on the labrum part (the soft tissues that act as a support in the hip joint) to restore its function should it end up being damaged. The surgery is still not considered a standard surgical treatment by almost every orthopaedic surgeon since it’s still a relatively new surgical procedure. The reconstructed tissue is either an allograft or an autograft.

Understanding Hip Replacement Surgery

If you heard about total hip arthroplasty in Singapore, it is another term for hip replacement surgery. It is a procedure for treating damaged joints that surgery cannot repair beyond normal reconstruction. Hip arthroplasty involves using a prosthesis—an artificial hip joint created to replace the damaged joint since it’s beyond repair. The procedure is done via partial or total replacement.

The prosthesis or the artificial joint can provide the same function as the replaced joint and improves your body movement. The materials for prostheses can be made of ceramics, plastic, or metal, based on the surgeon.

Here are the most common techniques used for hip replacement surgery:

Lateral approach

The orthopaedic surgeon will have to make an incision on the outer part of the hip. The area is approximately close to the front of the body. It also involves the splitting of the gluteus medius and the vastus lateralis muscles. The incision can be extended to the femur to enhance the exposure, easing the surgery process.

Posterior approach

A posterior approach is one of the most common surgery techniques to make an incision close to the buttock area. The hip posterior approach can run over the gluteus medius and minimus, and the cut will run through the muscles to access the hip joint. Patients will have to lie on their side during the posterior approach. Despite the process, the posterior approach is a minimally-invasive surgery. It is also ideal for those who need total hip arthroplasty.

Direct anterior approach

A direct anterior approach (as the term suggests and indicates) provides the most direct access to the anterior part of the hip during replacement surgery. The orthopaedic surgeon will ask you to lie on your back and will make an incision cut on the frontal thigh part at about 10 cm, extending over the tensor fascia latae and working through the muscle parts. Many surgeons favour this approach since it is useful for patients with periprosthetic fractures, and the surgeon can extend the anterior approach to perform more fracture surgery.

Final Thoughts

Knowing the difference between hip replacement and hip reconstruction matters if you seek proper treatment for hip injuries, such as joint damage, bone fracture or dislocation.

If you are seeking surgery for hip replacement or a candidate for total hip arthroplasty, you should only look for reputable surgeons in your area. A professional and credible surgery team with an established reputation can provide effective treatment with better downtime. They can also grant proper assessment services to your condition and recommend the most viable options tailored to your needs.

For knee meniscus tear treatment or hip replacement surgery, visit Advanced Orthopaedics and Sports Centre for more info.