The Operation

On the day of your surgery, you will be taken to the operating room. An anesthesiologist will administer anesthesia to prevent pain while the surgery is performed. Depending on what you and the anesthesiologist decide is best, the anesthesia will either put you completely to sleep or just numb the lower part of your body including the hips.

After the anesthesia begins to work, you will be placed on the operating table lying on your side. This makes it easier for the surgical team to see and work on your hip. The team will put supports at your chest and hips to make sure you don't move during the operation.

Dr. Zechmann will then feel along the outer side of your body just below the waist, looking for the greater trochanter (the top of the leg) where it attaches to the pelvic bone.

He will then make a single incision about three to four inches in length over the hip joint. The length of the incision depends on the size of the patient, but it is kept as small as possible while still giving Dr. Zechmann room to work

By precisely positioning the incision in the back of the hip and going between muscles instead of cutting through them, damage to the tissues surrounding the hip is minimized.

The first thing Dr Zechmann will need to do is prepare the socket in the acetabulum for the new hip. The diseased area will be removed and a special metal cup (or socket) will be implanted.

Using special instruments, the Dr Zechmann will move the muscles and other tissues in the area out of the way. This is a considerable change from traditional hip replacement where more of the muscles are cut.

This instrumentation is then used to expose and remove the femoral head removing the diseased area.

Using special instrumentation, he will remove some of the inner bone from the femoral canal (thigh bone). This is done so a hip stem can be implanted to support a new femoral head (ball of your hip).

In order to ensure the stem fits properly, one or more trial stems may be put in the hollowed out femur. Dr. Zechmann will then check to make sure the leg can be moved through its entire range of motion and that there are no major differences in the length of your legs.

Once he sees the joint is ready and the proper stem has been selected, the trial is removed and the actual stem is inserted. The use of cement to secure it in place is decided at the time of surgery and often depends on the shape and strength of the remaining thighbone.

When Dr. Zechmann is satisfied with the position and movement of your new hip joint, the incision will be closed.