Total Hip
Replacement
in Adelaide

What Is a Total Hip Replacement?

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. In hip arthritis, the cartilage that cushions the joint gradually wears away, leaving bone rubbing on bone. This causes progressive pain, stiffness, and loss of function that eventually cannot be managed with non-surgical treatment.

Total hip replacement involves removing the arthritic ball and socket and replacing them with precisely engineered prosthetic components - a metal stem in the femur, a ceramic or metal ball, and a metal cup with a polyethylene liner in the pelvis. The result is a new, smooth, pain-free joint surface.

When performed correctly, with well-matched components positioned to suit the patient's anatomy, the procedure is among the most consistently successful in all of medicine.

Who Needs a Hip Replacement?

Hip replacement is considered when hip arthritis has progressed to the point where pain and disability significantly affect daily life, and non-surgical measures are no longer providing adequate relief. The decision is based on symptoms and quality of life - not simply on X-ray findings.

Common indicators that hip replacement is appropriate include:

• Hip pain that is constant or present at rest and at night
• Significant limitation in walking distance or daily activities
• Stiffness that makes dressing or putting on shoes difficult
• Failed or insufficient response to physiotherapy, weight loss, walking aids, and anti-inflammatory medication
• X-ray evidence of advanced joint space narrowing consistent with symptoms

Age alone is not a determining factor. Dr Liew assesses each patient individually - both younger and older patients can be appropriate candidates depending on their overall health, activity goals, and expectations.

Dr Liew's Approach - Direct Anterior with 3D Planning

Dr Liew performs all hip replacements using the direct anterior approach (DAA) - a muscle-sparing technique that accesses the hip from the front of the body, between the muscle planes, without cutting or detaching any muscle.

This approach is combined with detailed 3D pre-operative planning using CT-based software. Before any patient enters the operating theatre, Dr Liew maps the patient's specific anatomy in three dimensions and determines the precise size, orientation, and position of each implant component.

On the day of surgery, patient-specific cutting guides and intra-operative imaging are used to confirm implant position in real time. This combination of pre-operative precision and intra-operative verification aims to reproduce the patient's natural hip anatomy as closely as possible.

The direct anterior approach also eliminates the traditional hip movement precautions associated with posterior approaches - patients can move freely from the day of surgery.

What to Expect - From Consultation to Recovery

Initial consultation - Dr Liew reviews your imaging, medical history, symptoms, and goals. If hip replacement is appropriate, a surgical date is planned and pre-operative investigations are arranged.

Pre-operative planning - A CT scan is used to create a three-dimensional model of your hip. Dr Liew uses this to plan implant sizing and positioning before surgery.

Surgery day - The procedure takes approximately 60-90 minutes under spinal or general anaesthesia. Most patients are walking with a frame on the day of surgery or the morning after.

Hospital stay - Most patients spend 2-3 nights at Eastwood Private Hospital before being discharged home.

Early recovery (weeks 1-6) - Walking gradually increases. Return to driving typically occurs at 2-3 weeks for automatic vehicles. Physiotherapy supports strength and mobility recovery.

Full recovery (3-12 months) - Most patients reach their functional plateau between 3 and 12 months. Activities such as walking, swimming, cycling, and golf are typically well-supported by a hip replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions