Hip Surgery on the Gold Coast
Dr Hartley is the lead surgeon for SuperPath Hip Replacements in Qld. For more information on this technique please click here: SuperPath Hip Replacement
Dr Hartley specialises in total hip replacements, revision hip surgery and surgical treatment of fractures around the hip and proximal (upper) femur.
Total hip replacement surgery
A total hip replacement is an effective solution to minimising hip pain, which is generally caused by the wearing away of the cartilage, protecting your hip joint. This loss of buffering between the ball and socket of your hip joint is the cause of your hip pain, a total hip replacement is designed to relieve you of your hip pain and improve your mobility.
A total hip replacement replaces the head (the ball) of your femur and resurfaces the acetabulum (socket or cup) of the pelvis. The benefits of a total hip replacement are numerous and result in a significant improvement in your lifestyle and your quality of life.
Preparation for surgery
Dr Hartley's secretary will organise for you to be seen at the pre-admission clinic 1-2 weeks prior to surgery. During this visit your specialist physician will organise appropriate investigations such as a chest x-ray, ECG and blood tests. Dr Hartley's secretary will also organise approbate x-rays and CT scans.
Stop taking aspirin, anti-inflammatories and herbal medications 7 days prior to surgery as they can cause bleeding and other side effects. You are strongly advised to cease smoking for as long as possible prior to surgery.
Your anaesthetist will meet you in the anaesthetic bay just prior to your operation and discuss your anaesthetic.
Recovery
You will wake up in the recovery room before being moved to the ward. If your surgery is in the morning you will be seen by a physiotherapist in the afternoon. If your surgery is in the afternoon you will be seen by a physiotherapist the following morning.
Revision hip replacement surgery
A revision hip replacement occurs when part or all of a total hip replacement fails or becomes loose. Common causes for joint replacement failure include infection, loosening of the components from the bone, wearing-out of the components which can cause dislocation or an unstable joint, fractures of the bone near a joint replacement and ongoing pain following the initial surgery.
Logically, you are more likely to require revision surgery the younger you are at the time of the original joint replacement. The failure rate of joint replacements is higher in younger patients due to the higher stresses younger people place on their components.
Preparation for Surgery
Surgery is usually but not always more extensive than previous surgery. Dr Hartley will send you for routine blood tests and any other investigations required prior to your surgery. You will be asked to undertake a general medical check-up with a physician and attend to any other medical, surgical or dental problems before your operation. You will meet the nurses and answer some questions for the hospital records and your anaesthetist will also ask you some questions.
Stop taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory and herbal medications 10 days prior to surgery as they can cause bleeding, and make arrangements around the house prior to surgery i.e. if your bedroom is upstairs you'll need to relocate your sleeping quarters to minimise movement.
Surgery
You will be given hospital clothes to change into and have a shower before surgery. The operation site will be shaved and cleaned and you will be transferred to the operating theatre. Revision total hip replacement takes longer than a standard total hip replacement and do have higher complication rates. Surgery is usually performed through the 
same incision but is usually extended in one or both directions.
Recovery
Your drains will usually be removed one day after surgery and you may be allowed to sit out of bed or walk. It is normal to feel pain but if you are experiencing a great deal of pain you should inform the nurse, who can administer stronger pain relief.
Hip fractures (breaks) around the hip
A hip fracture usually occurs just below the ball of your hip joint. The type of hip fracture surgery you require depends on the type of break you have and which parts of your hip joint are involved.
In the young this can often be caused by trauma from a road traffic accident and in the elderly from a fall.
A fractured hip at the upper part of the femur can be treated with plates and screws, a short rod in the upper part of the femur, a partial hip replacement or a total hip replacement.
Surgery
Fractures around the hip can be treated in two different ways. Either by fixing the break with a combination of plates, rods and screws, by a half hip replacement or rarely a total hip replacement.
Recovery
It is common to remain in hospital for between one and three weeks following surgery. A physiotherapist will see you once or twice a day following surgery. You might be recommended to be transferred to rehab for further physiotherapy after about one week.
For more information on total hip replacement surgery, revised hip replacement surgery or surgical operations to reduce hip pain and heal hip fractures - please call our receptionist - Annie Thomas on 1300 447 563 or complete our online enquiry form. .