Texas Center for Joint Replacement is introducing the Rapid Recovery Hip Program™. This is basically a hip replacement in which a patient is able to return to work in two weeks. Although not for every patient, many of our younger patients can benefit from this program.

Total hip replacement has proven to be an extremely reliable procedure in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip, eliminating the patient's pain and allowing them more freedom of movement. While this surgery was traditionally limited to seniors in the over-65 age group, younger patients occasionally will undergo total hip replacement for end-stage hip osteoarthritis or other diseases of the joints.

One of the drawbacks to total hip replacement is that the patient has traditionally been required to rehabilitate the operated hip for four to six weeks, remaining on crutches or a walker for this time. This presents a particularly difficult problem for younger patients who are still employed and are unable to stay away from work for four to six weeks.

With the Rapid Recovery Hip Program, patients can return to work after two weeks, and the recovery is much abbreviated. New materials and implant designs are now available that allow us to use a surgical approach that is functionally less invasive. This does not necessarily mean that the incision is smaller, but the approach affects muscles and other tissues less than a traditional approach. This enables patients to recover more quickly and return to their preoperative level of functioning much sooner.

The implants used are still Mallory-Head components, designed by TCJR's emeritus surgeon, Dr. William Head. We expect them to last as long as an implant put in by regular means; in fact, the differences between the "old" and "new" hip programs will only be noticeable in the first few months after surgery.

This program is unfortunately not for everyone. The criteria include strong bone, general good health and other factors. Please feel free to make an appointment with one of our surgeons and ask if the Rapid Recovery Hip Program is right for you.