- Akbar Medical center, Clinic 311A third floor Peshawar.
- +92 313 5735713
- Haleem Medical Centre Peshawar Road, Charsadda.
- +92 313 8822446
- Department of Orthopaedics Lady Reading Hospital MTI, Peshawar.
- 091-9211430
Hip Replacement Surgery in Peshawar
Hip pain that stops you praying on the floor, rising from a chair without help, or walking to the market without stopping to rest — this is not simply ageing. At OAIC Peshawar, Dr Muhammad Inam performs total and partial hip replacement surgery informed by a dedicated Fellowship in Arthroplasty completed in Italy — bringing international implant standards to patients across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
🔍 Signs your hip may need replacing
- Deep groin pain, sometimes felt in the thigh or knee
- Pain that is present even at rest or wakes you at night
- Significant limp that is getting worse over months
- Cannot put on shoes or socks without difficulty
- Hip stiffness so severe that rotation is barely possible
- Pain medication no longer providing adequate relief
60–90
3–5
15–25
3
Understanding Hip Replacement — What It Is and What It Is Not
A plain explanation of the joint, the procedure, and realistic long-term expectations.
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint: the rounded head of the femur sits inside a cup-shaped socket in the pelvis called the acetabulum. In a healthy joint, smooth cartilage covers both surfaces, allowing painless, fluid movement. When cartilage breaks down — from osteoarthritis, inflammatory joint disease, avascular necrosis, or post-fracture damage — those surfaces become rough and uneven, and eventually bone rubs directly on bone.
Hip replacement surgery — medically called hip arthroplasty — replaces the damaged surfaces with precision-engineered prosthetic components: a metal stem fixed into the femoral canal, a replacement femoral head, and a cup fitted into the acetabulum with a polyethylene or ceramic liner. The result is a smooth, pain-free articulation that restores the mechanics the natural joint has lost.
What it does not do: it does not make a hip normal. It restores function and eliminates pain in the vast majority of patients, but it has a lifespan of 15–25 years in well-selected patients, and certain high-impact activities are restricted long-term. Understanding these realistic expectations before surgery is a core part of every pre-surgical consultation at OAIC.
Types of Hip Replacement Performed at OAIC
The procedure is matched to the pattern and extent of joint damage.
Most common
Total Hip Replacement (THA)
Both the femoral head and the acetabular socket are replaced. Indicated when the entire joint surface is damaged — the standard presentation in advanced osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and avascular necrosis with complete femoral head collapse. The operation takes approximately 60–90 minutes; patients walk with a frame the same day or the morning after, and most are discharged within 3–5 days, walking independently within 4–6 weeks.
Fracture cases
Partial Hip Replacement (Hemiarthroplasty)
Only the femoral head is replaced — the natural acetabular socket is retained. Used primarily for hip fractures in elderly patients where the femoral head is damaged but the socket remains intact. A faster, less complex procedure suited to patients where rapid restoration of mobility is the priority.
Cemented Fixation
Generally preferred in older patients with osteoporotic bone — provides immediate stability without relying on bone ingrowth.
Cementless Fixation
Preferred in younger, active patients with good bone stock — avoids cement fatigue over time and is easier to revise in future if needed. Dr Inam selects the appropriate method individually based on imaging and bone density.
Which Joints Are Most Affected in KPK?
Degenerative joint disease can affect any joint, but some are far more common than others in the Pakistani population — particularly in KPK, where specific cultural and occupational factors accelerate joint loading.
Osteoarthritis of the Hip
Age-related cartilage degeneration causing progressive groin pain, stiffness, and a deteriorating limp. Many patients in KPK present late, accepting it as inevitable ageing rather than a treatable condition.
Avascular Necrosis (AVN)
Blood supply to the femoral head is disrupted — disproportionately common in Pakistan due to widespread unmonitored steroid use. Earlier-stage AVN can sometimes be managed with core decompression instead.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Synovial inflammation attacks cartilage and bone simultaneously. Requires careful coordination with rheumatological management — supported by Dr Inam’s Certificate in Rheumatology.
Hip Fracture in the Elderly
Femoral neck fractures frequently disrupt blood supply, making fixation unreliable. Hemiarthroplasty or THR is preferred for displaced fractures in patients over 65.
Post-Traumatic Hip Arthritis
Old dislocations or acetabular fractures that destroy the joint years later in relatively young patients. Requires careful planning around altered bony anatomy.
Developmental Hip Dysplasia
A shallower-than-normal socket, undiagnosed in childhood, causing early joint failure by the fourth or fifth decade. Technically more demanding and requires specific arthroplasty experience.
Do You Need Hip Replacement?
Candidacy is assessed individually — no patient is rushed toward surgery before it is genuinely warranted.
Replacement Likely Needed
Persistent pain, unresponsive to conservative care
Pain limiting daily activities for 3–6 months despite physiotherapy, medication, and walking aids.
Replacement Likely Needed
Significant arthritis confirmed on X-ray
Joint space narrowing, osteophytes, or femoral head deformity matching the clinical picture.
Surgery Usually Needed
Functional limitation affecting independence
Difficulty walking more than a few hundred metres, dressing, or rising from a seated position.
Surgery Usually Needed
Failure of injections and physiotherapy
Walking aids, anti-inflammatories, and joint injections no longer provide adequate relief.
Assess Individually
Younger patients (under 55)
Replacement has a finite lifespan — activity modification and delay strategies are explored thoroughly first.
Optimise First
Obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, infection, osteoporosis
Medical optimisation before surgery reduces complication risk significantly.
Hip Replacement vs Alternatives — When Surgery Is the Answer
Hip pain does not automatically mean hip replacement. Here is where it sits within the treatment spectrum.
- Early-to-moderate arthritis with preserved joint space
- Physiotherapy strengthening hip abductors reduces joint load effectively
- A walking stick on the opposite side reduces hip joint reaction forces
- Joint injections (corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, PRP) bridge 3–12 months of relief
- Hip resurfacing as an alternative in younger, active male patients with good bone quality
- Pain is constant and severely limiting function
- All conservative options have been tried and failed to provide adequate relief
- X-ray confirms structural damage matching the clinical picture
- Joint space is absent and structural deformity is present
- Replacement becomes the appropriate, well-evidenced next step
What the Surgery Involves — Step by Step
Performed at Lady Reading Hospital MTI Peshawar, with full anaesthetic and post-operative infrastructure.
1
Pre-Operative Preparation
Blood tests, hip X-rays with templating to determine implant size, and an anaesthetic assessment. Correctable risk factors — anaemia, uncontrolled diabetes, anticoagulants — are addressed beforehand.
2
Anaesthesia
Performed under spinal anaesthesia (most common) or general anaesthesia. Spinal anaesthesia reduces blood loss, lowers DVT risk, and provides excellent early pain control.
3
Surgical Approach
The hip is accessed posteriorly, laterally, or anteriorly based on anatomy and the procedure being performed. The posterior approach provides the widest exposure and is most commonly used at OAIC.
4
Joint Exposure & Resection
The hip capsule is opened, the femoral head dislocated and removed, and the acetabulum reamed to accept the new socket component.
5
Implant Placement
The acetabular cup and liner are secured, the femoral stem impacted or cemented, and the appropriate head size attached. Stability, range of motion, and leg length are assessed before closing.
6
Wound Closure & Recovery
Closed in layers with selective drain use. Patients stand and begin walking with a physiotherapist the same day or following morning. Discharge typically at 3–5 days.
Hip Implant Bearing Surfaces — A Practical Guide
Patients in Peshawar increasingly research implant types before their consultation. This overview covers the most common questions.
Implant selection at OAIC is based on age, activity demands, bone quality, and availability through LRH MTI. Dr Inam explains the options and the reasoning behind the selected choice at the pre-operative consultation.
Hip Replacement Recovery — What to Expect in Peshawar
Recovery follows a predictable pattern, but the timeline is individual. This is what Dr Inam communicates honestly to every patient.
Hospital & early home recovery
Pain well-controlled with regular analgesia. Walking begins immediately with a frame or crutches. Blood-thinning medication is prescribed for 4–6 weeks to reduce DVT risk.
Progressive independence
Most patients transition from a frame to a single crutch, then unassisted walking. Driving is typically possible from 6 weeks. Hip precautions — avoiding deep flexion, crossing legs, bending past 90° — are strictly observed.
Functional restoration
Most daily activities are restored. Physiotherapy focuses on hip abductor strengthening, balance, and gait normalisation.
Return to full activity
Walking distances, swimming, and cycling are appropriate. High-impact activities — running, jumping, contact sport — remain restricted long-term to protect implant longevity. Best functional outcome is typically reached between 6 and 12 months
When to Seek Specialist Care in Peshawar
🔴 Seek specialist review promptly if:
- Joint pain is affecting sleep or daily function
- You are taking pain medication daily for more than 2 weeks
- One knee or hip appears deformed or has changed shape
- You have unexplained joint swelling alongside systemic symptoms (fever, weight loss)
- Stiffness lasts more than one hour in the morning — this may indicate inflammatory arthritis rather than OA
- Younger patients (under 55) — higher lifetime revision likelihood
- Severe obesity — increases surgical risk and implant wear rates
- Active joint infection — must be fully resolved before replacement
- Severe osteoporosis — requires bone quality assessment for fixation strategy
- Poorly controlled diabetes or cardiovascular disease — optimisation reduces complication risk
Why Patients Across KPK Choose OAIC for Hip Replacement
Peshawar has many orthopaedic surgeons. Very few combine formal arthroscopy fellowship training with the clinical volume and international credentials that Dr Muhammad Inam brings to ACL reconstruction at OAIC.
🏅 Arthroplasty Fellowship — Italy
Dedicated subspecialty training covering hip and knee replacement techniques, implant selection, and complex case management.
🎓 FCPS · FRCS UK · FACS
Three of the most rigorous surgical qualifications in the world — Pakistan, UK, and USA — held simultaneously by Dr Inam. This level of international credentialling is uncommon among orthopaedic surgeons practising in Peshawar.
🔬 Certificate in Rheumatology — AACME USA
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis needing hip replacement have their systemic disease managed within the same practice.
🏥 Lady Reading Hospital MTI
Full anaesthetic, intensive care, blood bank, and post-operative nursing infrastructure at a major tertiary centre.
📍 Serving All of KPK
Patients from Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi, Dir, and Swat attend OAIC without travelling to Lahore or Islamabad.
🗣️ Honest Candidacy Assessment
Patients seeking a second opinion after being told elsewhere they need immediate surgery frequently find they can be managed non-surgically for longer.
Clinic Locations & Booking
Akbar Medical Centre
Haleem Medical Centre
Lady Reading Hospital MTI
Frequently Asked Questions
Q 1 Who is the best hip replacement surgeon in Peshawar?
Dr Muhammad Inam Khan at OAIC is among the most experienced hip replacement surgeons in Peshawar and KPK. He holds FCPS, FRCS (UK), and FACS, and completed a dedicated Fellowship in Arthroplasty in Italy. He performs hip replacement surgery at Lady Reading Hospital MTI and consults at Akbar Medical Centre, Monday to Friday from 4:00 PM.
Q 2 How long does a hip replacement last in Pakistan?
Modern hip implants last 15–25 years in appropriately selected and active patients. Longevity depends on age, weight, activity level, bone quality, and bearing surface. Regular follow-up allows early detection of any loosening before revision becomes urgent.
Q 3 What is the success rate of hip replacement surgery?
Total hip replacement has one of the highest success rates of any elective surgical procedure. Over 90% of patients report significant or complete pain relief, and over 85% of implants remain functional at 20 years in well-matched patients.
Q 4 How long is the recovery from hip replacement?
Most patients walk with a frame the day of or morning after surgery. Discharge occurs at 3–5 days. Independent walking is typically achieved by 4–6 weeks, driving resumes at 6 weeks, and full functional recovery is usually complete at 3–6 months.
Q 5 Is hip replacement surgery available in Peshawar?
Yes. Total and partial hip replacement is performed at OAIC by Dr Muhammad Inam Khan at Lady Reading Hospital MTI. Patients from across KPK attend OAIC without needing to travel to Lahore or Islamabad.
Q 6 Can I sit on the floor or perform floor-level prayer after hip replacement?
Deep hip flexion — sitting cross-legged, squatting, or sitting at floor level — is restricted after total hip replacement due to dislocation risk. Most patients can pray seated on a chair without difficulty, and many adapt with guidance from an Islamic scholar on permissible prayer positions. Dr Inam discusses these concerns openly at the pre-operative consultation.
Q 7 What is avascular necrosis and why is it common in Pakistan?
AVN is the death of bone tissue in the femoral head from loss of blood supply. It is significantly more common in Pakistan because systemic corticosteroids are widely prescribed without adequate monitoring. Earlier-stage AVN can sometimes be managed with joint-preserving surgery, avoiding replacement altogether.
Q 8 What is the difference between total and partial hip replacement?
Total hip replacement replaces both the femoral head and acetabular socket, used for advanced arthritis, AVN, and inflammatory disease. Partial hip replacement (hemiarthroplasty) replaces only the femoral head and is most commonly used for hip fractures in elderly patients where the socket remains intact.
Hip Pain Limiting Your Life in Peshawar? Find Out Whether You Need Surgery.
Most patients with hip pain can be managed without surgery for a significant period. Understanding where you are in the disease progression starts with one accurate consultation.
Peshawar Clinic: Mon–Fri 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM · Sunday 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Charsadda: Saturday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM