What is hip replacement surgery?

Hip replacement is the removal and replacement of portions of the pelvis and femur (thighbone) that form your hip joint. It is performed primarily to relieve hip pain and stiffness caused by hip arthritis. This procedure is also sometimes used to treat injuries such as a broken or improperly growing hip, and for other conditions.

How do you know if you need a hip replacement?

If you have these arthritis symptoms , you should consider a hip replacement:

  • severe hip pain that is not relieved by medication and that interferes with your work, sleep or everyday activity
  • hip stiffness that restricts motion and makes it difficult to walk

Hip replacement surgical methods

There are two major surgical approach methods for performing a total hip replacement:

  • the posterior approach (more common)
  • the anterior approach (sometimes called the "mini-anterior approach" or "muscle-sparing hip replacement")

To begin the operation, the hip replacement surgeon will make incisions on either the back (posterior) or front (anterior) of the hip. Both approaches offer pain relief and improvement in walking and movement within weeks of surgery.

What are hip implants made of?

There are three separate implants: the stem, the ball and the socket.

  • The stem, made out of metal (usually titanium or cobalt-chrome) is inserted into your natural thighbone.
  • The ball is usually made out of polished metal or ceramic, and fits on top of the stem.
  • The socket is usually a combination of a plastic liner and a cobalt-chrome or titanium backing

What should I look for in a hip replacement surgeon?

When looking for a meeting with us to perform your hip replacement surgery, it’s important to do your research and check the surgeon’s credentials, experience and reputation. It is also important to research the hospital or facility where you will have your operation, as well as its supporting staff, such as the anesthesiologists.

The success rate for hip replacement surgery at HSS is very high. In a study, HSS interviewed patients to learn about their progress. Two years after their surgeries, 99.4% of patients said they had relief from pain, 98.8% said their ability to move was improved, and 97.8% said their quality of life was better because of their surgery.