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| | A total hip replacement -- replacement of an entire hip joint with artificial parts -- usually is performed on patients whose hip has been so damaged by arthritis or injury that there is severe pain that limits daily activity.
The Joint Replacement Center of NYC offers a guide to hip replacement. | | |
| Typical costs: | - For patients without health insurance, a total hip replacement usually will cost between $31,839 and $44,816, with an average cost of $39,299, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. However, some medical facilities offer uninsured discounts. At the Kapiolani Medical Center in Aiea, Hawaii, where the full price is about $33,000, an uninsured patient would pay a discounted rate of $20,212 to $23,581.
- Hip replacement surgery usually is covered by health insurance, according to DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company and major manufacturer of orthopaedic devices. And, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, any necessary surgery, including hip replacement, would be covered, unless it is experimental or covered in a specific exclusion.
- Patients with health insurance typically pay out-of-pocket expenses up to several thousand dollars, or their out-of-pocket maximum. For example, at Dartmought-Hitchcock Medical Center, a Medicare patient could pay up to $3,957, including deductibles and coinsurance. And a patient with health insurance that has a typical 20 percent copay for surgeries and a $3,000 out-of-pocket maximum would pay the full $3,000 at DHMC.
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| What should be included: | - An orthopaedic surgeon will perform an initial evaluation, take a medical history and X-rays, possibly perform other tests such as an MRI to check bone and soft tissues, and discuss whether a hip replacement is right for the patient. If so, the doctor will provide a list of preparations for surgery, which might include blood tests and losing weight, if necessary.
- After surgery, a several-day hospital stay usually is required.
- The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers an overview of hip replacement surgery.
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| Additional costs: | - It is usually recommended to outfit the living quarters with items to ease recovery, such as shower or bath handrails, secure handrails on stairs, a reacher to assist in grabbing items and cushions that allow for sitting with knees lower than hips.
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| Shopping for hip replacement: | - Look for a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and who has plenty of experience performing hip replacements.
- Hip replacement candidates include people with hip pain so severe it interferes with daily activities such as walking.
- Possible serious hip replacement complications include joint infection, which happens in 2 percent of hip replacement surgeries. Complications that are even more rare include heart attack and stroke.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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Article updated March 2008 |
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