Hip joint replacement is surgery to replace all or part of the hip joint with an artificial joint. The artificial joint is called a prosthesis.

Hip arthroplasty; Total hip replacement; Hip hemiarthroplasty

The artificial hip joint has four parts:

• A socket that replaces your old hip socket. The socket is usually made of metal.
• The liner, which fits inside the socket. It is usually plastic, but some surgeons are now trying other materials, like ceramic and metal. The liner allows the hip to move smoothly.
• A metal or ceramic ball that will replace the round head (top) of your thigh bone.
• A metal stem that is attached to the shaft of the thigh bone to make the joint more stable.

You may receive general anesthesia before this surgery. This means you will be unconscious and unable to feel pain. You may have a spinal or epidural anesthesia. In this kind of anesthesia, medicine is put into your back to make you numb below your waist.

Images

Osteoarthritis vs. rheumatoid arthritis

Hip fracture

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Review Date: 10/31/2010
Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)