Hip replacement removes damaged parts of the hip joint and replaces them with artificial components. The operation is also called hip arthroplasty. NIAMS describes its goals as reducing pain, improving joint function, and increasing mobility. Those goals explain why the procedure is discussed; they do not predict a particular person's result. The condition of the hip and overall health remain part of the individual assessment. NIAMS hip-replacement overview.

The hip joint and the changes that lead to replacement

The upper end of the thighbone forms the ball, called the femoral head. It fits into the socket in the pelvis, called the acetabulum. Smooth articular cartilage covers these bone surfaces, while a thin lining produces fluid that supports their movement. A capsule and ligaments help stabilize the joint. OrthoInfo hip anatomy.

In hip osteoarthritis, cartilage becomes rough and wears away, the space between the bones narrows, and bone spurs may develop. Pain and stiffness can affect walking, rising from a chair, or putting on shoes. OrthoInfo says osteoarthritis has no single specific cause and describes factors such as age, previous injury, family history, and how the hip formed. The osteoarthritis guide explains these joint changes. OrthoInfo hip-osteoarthritis explanation.

Osteoarthritis is not the only reason a hip can be damaged. NIAMS also describes other forms of arthritis, loss of blood supply to bone, and injuries or fractures. The reason for replacement matters because a description written for arthritis is not necessarily a description of care after a fracture. The operation name identifies what is replaced; it does not identify the whole diagnosis. NIAMS conditions associated with hip replacement.

What total replacement changes

In a total hip replacement, the damaged femoral head is removed. A stem is placed in the thighbone, with a metal or ceramic ball above it. The damaged socket surface is replaced with a socket component and a liner. The liner sits between the ball and socket to provide a gliding surface. These artificial components together form the prosthesis, or replacement joint. OrthoInfo total-replacement components; MedlinePlus definition and description.

NIAMS describes metal components at the bone-facing stem and socket, with bearing surfaces made from metal, ceramic, or plastic. Bearing surface means the area where the ball and socket move against each other. Possible combinations include a ceramic ball against plastic or ceramic, or a metal ball against plastic. This describes material categories, without identifying a preferred combination for an individual. NIAMS implant-material description.

Attachment also differs. Cemented components use a special bone cement. Uncemented components have a surface into which bone can grow; a hybrid replacement combines attachment methods. The material moving against another component and the method securing a component to bone are different features. The implant and registry guide explains those features and the records used to follow implants. NIAMS attachment methods.

Partial replacement and resurfacing

The NHS describes partial hip replacement as replacing the ball while leaving the socket in place. Its information discusses this in relation to serious injury and a person's health or frailty. Partial refers to the structures changed, rather than a guarantee of a simpler experience. The distinction is anatomical: total replacement changes the ball and socket, while partial replacement leaves the socket. NHS hip-operation descriptions.

In hip resurfacing, a cap fits over the prepared femoral head rather than replacing it with a stemmed ball. A matching cup changes the socket's bearing surface. The reference describes less bone removal than total replacement, but suitability still depends on anatomy and assessment. The NHS also notes that weaker bones affect suitability. Hip-resurfacing reference; NHS resurfacing description.

Before the operation: assessment and practical planning

OrthoInfo describes an assessment of medical history, the effect of pain on daily life, hip movement, strength, and alignment, along with imaging. The discussion includes possible benefits, limitations, risks, and other treatment categories. The NHS describes replacement in the setting of pain and loss of movement affecting daily life when other approaches have not worked. These are factors in a clinical conversation, rather than a self-assessment for eligibility. OrthoInfo orthopedic evaluation; NHS replacement overview.

NIAMS describes preparation as both medical and practical. Topics include what to expect, transport for appointments, help with household tasks, equipment for daily activities, and the area at home used during recovery. Its information also discusses the person's health and physical condition. These topics can frame questions about the care plan without turning a general page into instructions about an individual's medicines or exercises. NIAMS preparation information.

Anesthesia may be regional, which blocks feeling in a body area, or general, which places the person asleep for surgery. The NHS explains that the type of operation depends on the damage, its cause, and general health. An approach using smaller incisions is not suitable for everybody. The operation's full description therefore includes more than the size or location of a cut. NIAMS anesthesia explanation; NHS procedure and approach information.

Possible complications and material-specific questions

The NHS lists blood clots, wound infection, differences in leg length, damage to nearby nerves or tissues, dislocation, and wear among possible complications. Dislocation means that the replacement ball leaves its socket, as MedlinePlus explains. Infection can involve the wound or extend deeper into the joint. Some complications may require further surgery. Listing the possibilities does not estimate an individual's risk. NHS hip-replacement complications.

The FDA has separate information on metal-on-metal hip implants, where the moving ball and socket surfaces are metal. Its page distinguishes these systems from other hip implants and describes stricter premarket approval requirements for metal-on-metal total replacements. The NHS explains that wear in these implants can cause health problems. A material-specific question therefore concerns the exact bearing surfaces, rather than whether any part of a hip implant contains metal. FDA metal-on-metal information; NHS metal-on-metal explanation.

For someone who has recently had a hip replacement, the NHS lists symptoms that need urgent medical advice: throbbing or cramping pain in the hip or leg, a high temperature or feeling hot, cold or shivery, oozing or pus from the wound, and redness, tenderness, swelling or pain that is not getting better or is getting worse. It notes that these could be signs of an infection or a blood clot in its hip-replacement complications information.

Recovery and the alternatives discussion

The NHS describes recovery beginning with care after anesthesia, pain management, and help from nurses and physiotherapists to move and walk. Before discharge, therapists discuss everyday activities and the home exercise plan. Follow-up checks how recovery is progressing. The recovery and rehabilitation guide develops these topics without assigning a return-to-work or activity timetable to an individual. NHS hip-replacement recovery information.

The NHS lists non-surgical alternatives including physical therapy and activity-related care, walking aids, pain-relief medicines applied to the skin or taken by mouth, and steroid injections. NIAMS also describes other treatments before replacement and emphasizes health history and surgical risks. These categories provide context for the conversation about alternatives; they do not select an approach or suggest delaying, accepting, or refusing an operation. NHS alternatives to hip replacement; NIAMS individual assessment.