What is a Total Hip Replacement?

A hip joint consists of two bones - the femoral head (the ball) and the acetabulum (the socket). Usually the joint is well lubricated and the one bone can slide against the other bone with minimal friction. However, with diseased hips, the cartilage covering the surface of the bone is worn away and we now have a situation in which the bones are rubbing against each other, causing pain and limiting movement. Joints can be destroyed for a variety of reasons, but arthritis is the most common.

Total Hip Replacement is a surgical procedure which involves the removal of the diseased bone and the reconstruction of the anatomy with an artificial joint called a total hip prosthesis. The components of the prosthesis are designed to act like the normal joint. There is a femoral stem - a metal component that is placed into the thigh bone, and an acetabular cup- a plastic and metal component that is placed where the socket was. There are two goals with Total Hip Replacement:

• Reduce or eliminate pain.
• To restore function by improving the movement of the joint.