Information on Double Hip Replacement Surgery

WABC—New York—June 15, 2006 

Hip replacement is a common surgery.  One quarter of a million procedures are done yearly.  The most common condition that results in the need for hip replacement surgery is arthritis.

Some patients who have two impaired hips are now opting to have both hips replaced at the same time.

“Many times just doing one hip will buy them enough time that they may not need surgery on the other hip for years,” Geoffrey H. Westrich, M.D., associate attending orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery said.

However, for some patients, the pain from the arthritis in their hips is too extreme, and an increasing amount of patients are having both hips replaced.

The surgery, in which both hips are replaced, is done in about 10 to 15 percent of patients.  Dr. Westrich says not only does arthritis have to be present in both hips but there also has to be “pain” in both hips.

Total recovery takes anywhere from three to six months and during that time, physical therapy is critical.  Afterwards, it is very important the patient refrains from high impact activities after the surgery.  Also, when choosing a surgeon, it is very important to look for a surgeon who has performed many hip surgeries.

Read an Internet version of the WABC-TV story.