Total Hip Replacement
Welcome to "Total Hip Info" a site devoted to providing access to concise and unbiased information related to Total Hip Replacementand Hip Replacement Surgery.
What is Total Hip Replacement?
Total Hip Replacement is a surgical procedure where:The bones of the hip joint are resurfaced with metal and plastic implants.
The bones of the hip are "realigned" so that the weight that passes through the hip is normally distributed and leg length is restored and/or corrected.
The Hip Joint-Basic Anatomy
The hip joint is a simple ball and socket joint. Unlike the knee joint where stability is mainly controlled by ligaments and other soft tissue, the hip joint is characterized by an intimate mating of two complimentary shaped bones.
In the hip joint the cup-shaped acetabulum of the pelvis mates with ball-shaped end of the femur or thigh bone. In a normal joint these surface are covered in a well lubricated, low-friction layer of cartilage
Hip Joint Degredation
Osteoarthritis in the hip joint is the wearing of the articular cartilage on the surfaces of the bones that form the hip joint. If this wear is severe enough, hip replacement may be indicated.
Avascular Necrosis is another condition which can lead to Total Hip Replacement. Here the blood supply to the femoral head becomes lost or compromised leading to "death" of the living bone tissue. This can lead to fracture and possible hip replacement.
Hip Replacement Surgery and Total Hip Implants
In Hip Replacement surgery, the worn ends of the bones are resurfaced with metal, ceramic and or plastic implants.
The socket of the acetabulum is "reamed" or shaped to accept a specifically sized hip prosthesis. The socket is often metal that is fitted with a plastic liner. A recent advance has been the introduction of a ceramic acetabular liner.
The end of the femur is resected (the "ball" is removed) and the canal of the femoral bone is reamed and sized to accept the femoral stem component of the hip implant. This implant is either cemented in place with a polymer compound or press-fit in place so that bone can grow into the implant. Both types are widely used today.
The end of the femoral implant is fitted with an appropriately sized ball that is mated with the acetabular liner or shell. The ball was typically metal, but recently ceramic balls are being used.
Recently, surgeons have been attempting to minimize soft tissue trauma and speed recovery through minimally or less invasive techniques (MIS Hip Replacement).
Useful Links
Hip Implant Manufacturers:
Medical Disclaimer:
The contents of this website and the links are for information only
and are not a substitute for medical advice. This information should
not replace necessary
medical consultations with a qualified physician or health care
provider.