Total Hip Replacement Procedure

The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. The head of the femur (thigh bone) fits into the acetabulum (socket of the pelvic bone) to form the hip joint. In a healthy joint, the ends of the bone are covered with articular cartilage, which allows smooth painfree motion. The most common reason for hip surgery is related to the wearing away of cartilage leading to pain, limited mobility and instability. Hip surgery is done to replace an arthritic or damaged joint with man-made parts called prosthetics.  These man-made implants are called a prosthesis and can be made of many different materials including metal, polyethylene (plastic), ceramic or a combination of materials. Your surgeon will choose the implant that is best for you and your indications. The goal of THR surgery is to increase the mobility and lessen pain. Total hip replacements are also called total hip arthroplasty (THA).

The hip is a ball and socket joint. The head of the femur,  the thighbone, fits into the acetabulum, the socket of the pelvic bone, to form the hip joint. In a healthy joint, the ends of the bones are covered with articular cartilage, which allows smooth pain-free movement. The most common reason for a hip replacement is the wearing away of cartilage leading to pain, limited mobility and instability of the joint.

During hip replacement surgery, the surgeon makes an incision to expose the hip joint. The surgeon prepares the acetabulum, the socket, by removing the damaged cartilage and replacing it with a prosthetic part or cup that serves as the new socket. Then, the surgeon prepares the femur to accommodate the stem of the prosthesis. The stem and its bearing surface, ball, are then inserted into the canal of the femur. The stem may or may not be cemented in place. Finally, the ball and socket are lined up precisely. A drain tube may be placed into the wound and then is closed. Finally a bandage is applied.