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Hip Replacement

Hip Replacement

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that acts like a ball bearing, allowing you to turn in different directions while supporting the body. The “ball” is located at the upper end of the thigh bone (femur), and this fits into the “socket” of the hip. Both are protected by cartilage, the smooth soft tissue that allows the ball to move easily inside of the socket.

Arthritis can cause the cartilage to wear away, allowing the bones to rub against each other and causing pain and disability. This is the most common reason for hip replacement. An artificial hip is made of metal and plastic and recreates the normal function of the hip.

There are two types of total hip replacement procedures: cemented and cementless. In cemented hip replacement, a cement is used to secure the implant to the bone. In cementless hip replacement, the bone heals directly to the prosthesis. The results of either procedure are similar. The only difference is that cementless hip replacement usually has a longer lifetime and is only for those patients with sufficient bone quality to accommodate a cementless procedure.

Most patients take six weeks to three months to recover after a hip replacement procedure. However, you can expect to see improvements for up to one year or longer after the operation.

Page last updated on Oct. 24, 2008