Last updated: 11/24/2009

Nonsurgical alternatives

The most common conservative alternatives to hip replacement surgery are assistive devices (canes or walkers) to reduce stress on the affected hip; exercise regimens to maintain joint flexibility; dietary changes,...

particularly if the patient is overweight; and analgesics, or painkilling medications. Most patients who try medication begin with an over-the-counter NSAID such as ibuprofen (Advil). If the pain cannot be controlled by nonprescription analgesics, the doctor may give the patient cortisone injections, which relieve the pain of arthritis by reducing inflammation. Unfortunately, the relief provided by cortisone tends to diminish with each injection; moreover, the drug can produce serious side effects.

Complementary and alternative (CAM) approaches

Complementary and alternative forms of therapy cannot be used as substitutes for hip replacement surgery, but they are helpful in managing pain before and after the operation, and in speeding physical recovery. Many patients also find that CAM therapies help them maintain a positive mental attitude in coping with the emotional stress of surgery and physical therapy. CAM therapies that have been shown to relieve the pain of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis include acupuncture, music therapy, naturopathic treatment, homeopathy, Ayurvedic medicine, and certain herbal preparations. Chronic pain from other disorders affecting the hip has been successfully treated with biofeedback, relaxation techniques, chiropractic manipulation, and mindfulness meditation.

Some types of movement therapy are recommended in order to postpone the need for hip surgery. Yoga, tai chi, qigong, and dance therapy help to maintain strength and flexibility in the hip joint, and to slow down the deterioration of cartilage and muscle tissue. Exercise in general has been shown to reduce a person's risk of developing osteoporosis.

Alternative surgical procedures

Other surgical options include:

• Osteotomy. An osteotomy is a procedure in which the surgeon cuts the thigh bone or pelvis in order to realign the hip. It is done more frequently in Europe than in the United States, but it has the advantage of not requiring artificial materials.
• Arthrodesis. This type of operation is rarely performed except in younger patients with injury to one hip. In this procedure, the head of the femur is fused to the acetabulum with a plate and screws. The major advantage of arthrodesis is that it places fewer restrictions on the patient's activity level than a hip replacement.
• Pseudarthrosis. In this procedure the head of the femur is removed without any replacement, resulting in a shorter leg on the affected side. It is usually performed when the patient's bones are too weak for implanting a prosthesis or when the hip joint is badly infected. This procedure is sometimes called a Girdlestone operation, after the surgeon who first used it in the 1940s.