Injury |
This 54 year old lady, smoker, had a slip and fell on her hip. There was a fracture of the neck of femur on the left side. The options in such a situation are to either fix the fracture or replace the joint either half (Hemiarthroplasty-only the ball of the joint is replaced) or complete (Total Hip Replacement-boththe ball & socket are replaced). |
Post surgery |
Since the hip joint was normal before the fracture, it was decided (with patient’s consultation) to do a fixation and try and salvage the hip. A closed reduction and percutaneus cancellous screw fixation (minimally invasive) was done. |
2 months post surgery |
The fracture seemed to be well on its way to heal. She was walking well though still with the walker. |
3 months post surgery |
In her sleep one day she suddenly felt a sudden sharp pain in the hip joint, afterwards she was ok, so she continued to walk on the leg. She came back to us after a few days of limping and not being able to walk as earlier. The x-rays at that time showed this picture – where the screws had cut out of the ball (femoral head) and were even pinching on the socket. This was the cause of her pain, limp & shortening. |
Post Total Hip Replacement |
The xray picture after total hip replacement. The socket (acetabular cup) was fixed with bone cement whereas the femoral stem is uncemented. The length of the limb has been restored. |
2 months after THR |
2 months on the patient is walking well. |