When the hip joint is so damaged that it causes severe pain, reduced walking distance and impaired quality of life for the patient, a hip prosthesis (hip arthroplasty) can be inserted.

It is important to try to treat the symptoms with pain-relieving medication, physiotherapy etc., but if the pain becomes so disabling that it affects daily functions or causes lack of sleep at night, it is a good idea to consult a doctor regarding the possibility of inserting an artificial hip.

Why does one develop osteoarthritis?

Today, osteoarthritis is described as a widespread disease, as it is the most common joint disease that affects virtually everyone with age.

After the age of 50, 8 out of 10 people have osteoarthritis. For many patients, osteoarthritis means everyday life with pain and frustration, because one can experience that it can be difficult to do one’s job, get daily exercise and must give up leisure interests.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterised by the body’s joints being attacked by an inflammation-like condition. It occurs in approximately 1% of the adult Danish population. Women are affected three times as often as men. The disease most commonly arises between the ages of 30 and 50. In many cases, the disease causes the joints to gradually become deformed and thereby lose their function. This results in pain, restriction and stiffness during movement. 

Previous hip fractures as well as rarer conditions can also lead to the hip joint being damaged and there being a need for an operation to insert a new hip joint.

Expectations for the operation

The outcome of the operation is individual. The vast majority of patients achieve a significant reduction in pain, and we aim for you to become completely pain-free, but we cannot promise it.

The prosthesis we use has a durability of at least 20 years for 85% of those operated on.
If it is necessary to replace the prosthesis due to wear or loosening, this is done through a new operation.

The operation

Our highly specialised surgeons work responsibly and dedicatedly to help you restore your mobility and activity level through diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of your hip injury. 

The operation itself typically lasts 30–60 minutes. The time difference is due to the varying degree of wear on the hip and how extensive a procedure needs to be performed on the hip.

Drains are no longer used during the operation, as they have no effect.

After the operation

When the operation itself is finished, a dressing is applied to the hip. To achieve the best possible outcome, it is important that you are mobilised as quickly and as much as possible in the period after the operation. This reduces the risks associated with the operation.

You should expect to be admitted for 1–2 days after the operation and will be discharged when you can get in and out of bed yourself, take your clothes off and on, sit in a chair and stand up again, walk with crutches, have adequate pain relief and possibly manage stairs if you have stairs at home.

During admission and in the period after you have returned home, you will receive our pain package, which consists of several different forms of pain treatment that together provide the best pain relief. During your admission at CPH Privathospital, a physiotherapist will train with you, but it is important that you also train yourself according to the instructions the physiotherapist gives you.

When you are discharged, you will be offered an outpatient follow-up with the surgeon after 3 months, and you should book an appointment with your own doctor 2 weeks after the operation to remove the small clips that are placed in the skin.

Rehabilitation takes place either in your municipality or through your insurance company.