Hip replacement surgery in Tokyo
Do you live in Tokyo and suffer from hip osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis of the hip is a “wear and tear of the hip joint” that is more commonly seen in the elderly, but can also occur in younger adults in their 40s, 30s, and even in their 20s.
It is a condition that can occur in younger people due to many different reasons such as being overweight, having a job that requires you to sit for long periods of time, not having the proper posture during it, doing too much heavy lifting, doing too much exercise, etc.
I know that living in a foreign country makes it difficult to want to go to a doctor to have it checked out, but this is something that could potentially get worse if not treated.
In this article, I will explain the basics of hip osteoarthritis as well as introduce you to a hospital with an orthopedic department that offers healthcare with multilingual services and cutting-edge healthcare technology.
*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.
*Note: Before I start explaining, let me remind you that we aren’t experts in this field, and the information that we’re providing in this article is all general info.
If you’re interested in taking this procedure and want to know more about the details, we suggest that you make an appointment at the clinic and ask the specialist.
What is Hip Osteoarthritis?
Hip osteoarthritis, or Degenerative Arthritis of the Hip, occurs when the cartilage and the underlying bone of the hip joint wears away due to repeated inflammation or injury of the hip joint, causing pain, swelling, and deformity. This degeneration can be caused by different reasons such as joint injury, increasing age, being overweight, genetic defects in joints or cartilage, or putting extra stress on their joints by overexercising or bad posture. The bad news here is that once injured, the body doesn’t grow new cartilage.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hip osteoarthritis include joint stiffness after being still for a long time (getting out of bed or standing from your seat), pain or swelling in the hip joint, a crunching feeling in the hip joint, and the inability to perform routine activities that require moving your hip. when it gets worse, you might even have problems walking.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing hip osteoarthritis can be difficult at first since the pain can appear in different locations and in different intensities. In most cases, it is diagnosed by X-ray when the narrowing of the joint and spurring of the joint margins are visible. It can also be diagnosed by performing a physical examination that includes the checking of hip functionality.
How is Hip Osteoarthritis treated?
Hip osteoarthritis can be treated in many different ways depending on how advanced the condition is.
If the condition is still minor, then it can be treated just by sufficient resting and proper joint care. Using a cane when walking can also be effective to take some of the weight off the hip. In other cases, losing excess weight and exercise can also help to treat this condition.
In the case that the condition is more advanced, then medication is more common. These include acetaminophen, anti-inflammatory drugs, or even prescription pain medication.
However, if none of these methods seem to be helping you with either the pain or the mobility of your hip joint, then surgery is something you may want to consider. Hip replacement surgery is something that has been done for over 100 years to treat hip osteoarthritis. This surgery consists of replacing the damaged joint with an artificial joint which will bring back the mobility and eliminate the pain.
Where can you have hip replacement surgery in Tokyo?
NTT Medical Center Tokyo (NTT東日本関東病院) is one of the largest hospitals in Tokyo that has delivered excellent medical service for both Japanese and international patients for many years. Its comprehensive healthcare covers from minor illnesses such as cough, diarrhea, headache, back pain, chest pain, and rash, to tackling chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, anxiety, depression, and more. It is located in the center of Tokyo, allowing you to easily visit it from the surrounding neighborhoods.
In this clinic, they perform hip replacement surgery using a robotic-arm-assisted technology called “Mako“. This technology helps the surgeon provide a personalized surgical experience for each patient.
Mako System
How this works is that the CT scan data of the patient is used to form a 3D model of the unique anatomy and is loaded into the Mako system to create the surgery plan which is reviewed by the surgeon. During surgery, the system will identify the anatomy of the patient and assist the surgeon that will be controlling the robotic arm.
Hip replacement surgery performed by the Mako system has many advantages compared to regular hip replacement surgery. For example, the system will have virtual boundaries to ensure that no more than the arthritic bone is removed, increasing surgical accuracy. The system also provides assistance when placing the artificial joint to ensure the desired angle of placement which will allow the implant to have better durability. Also, since it is not necessary for the surgeon to see directly to the operating area, the incision is minimal. This low invasiveness reduces the burden on the body and enables a quicker recovery.
For more information about this procedure as well as NTT Medical Center Tokyo, please contact the hospital from the following link.
▶NTT Medical Center Tokyo website: https://www.nmct.ntt-east.co.jp/lp/international_healthcare/
You can make an appointment for online counseling which is available on Thursdays after 14:00 (excluding holidays).
Access | Approximately 7 mins walk from Gotanda station |
---|---|
Telephone Number | 03-6721-6239 |
Official Website | https://www.nmct.ntt-east.co.jp/lp/international_healthcare/ |
*Note: The Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery has, like any other type of surgery, its own risks and there are cases that this procedure is not the optimal solution depending on the patient. Be sure to consult all these details with the specialist.
▽Subscribe to our free news magazine!▽
I hope this article was helpful to you. Although Hip Osteoarthritis is a very specific medical area, it is good to know that there is a clinic in Tokyo where you know you can get the best treatment.
For more information about Japanese clinics and other medical-related information, check out these other articles.
▽Related Articles ▽
▼Editor’s Picks▼
Written by
Born and raised in Costa Rica, I started living in Tokyo from college. I love traveling within Japan & around the world. Since I wasn’t born in Japan, I know the cultural impact that you can get when visiting Japan for the first time and what you might be worried about before your trip. And I’ve lived long enough to somewhat understand the nuances of the Japanese culture that make this country such an attractive place to visit. Hopefully I can provide to you both the information you’re looking for and the information you didn’t know you needed to know.