Total Hip Replacement

Total hip replacement involves removing the diseased bone and cartilage and replacing them with orthopaedic implants. The surgical procedure involves an incision through the skin to gain access to the hip joint through the muscles overlying the hip, all done while the patient is under anesthesia. After the surgeon exposes the hip, your diseased hip ball (femoral head) is removed. It is replaced with an artificial ball on a stem which is inserted into the hollow part of the thighbone. The stem may be pressed into place or cemented using a special acrylic cement. The hip socket (acetabulum) is prepared by “reaming” it, using special instruments that make it the right size and shape. A metallic acetabular shell is then pressed into place and sometimes further secured with bone screws. A cup-shaped acetabular liner is then placed in this shell forming the socket part of the ball-and-socket replacement. The ball and socket are then placed together to complete the implant procedure and the soft tissues are repaired to complete the surgery. Each implant is available in a variety of sizes to accommodate different body sizes and shapes.