Hip

What is a Hip Replacement Surgery?
Hip replacement, also called arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure to replace a damaged hip with a prosthesis (an artificial joint). This surgery may be considered following a hip fracture (breaking of the bone) or for someone who has severe arthritis.
Various types of arthritis may affect the hip joint. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that affects mostly middle-aged and older adults, may cause the breakdown of joint cartilage and adjacent bone in the hips. Rheumatoid arthritis, which causes inflammation of the synovial membrane and results in excessive synovial fluid, may lead to pain and stiffness. Traumatic arthritis, arthritis due to injury, may cause damage to the articular cartilage of the hip.

The goal of hip replacement surgery is to replace the parts of the hip joint that have been damaged and to relieve hip pain that cannot be controlled by other treatments. A traditional hip replacement involves an incision (cut) about 10 to 12 inches long over the hip joint. Newer approaches are being developed that use one or two smaller incisions to perform the procedure, called minimal incision hip replacement or minimally invasive hip replacement. However, the minimally invasive procedure is not suited for all candidates for hip replacement. The physician will determine the best procedure for a person, based on that individual's situation.

Other related procedures that may be used to help diagnose joint disorders include x-ray, bone scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT scan), arthroscopy, joint aspiration, and arthrography. Please see these procedures for additional information.

Anatomy of the Hip
Joints are the areas where two or more bones meet. Most joints are mobile, allowing the bones to move. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint. Ball-and-socket joints allow backward, forward, sideways, and rotating movements. The ball part of the hip joint is the head of the femur (thigh bone), and the acetabulum is the socket, a cup-like structure in the pelvis.

A hip joint consists of the following:

Cartilage: a type of connective tissue made up of cells and fibers that covers the surface of a bone at a joint. Cartilage is wear-resistant and helps reduce the friction of movement within a joint.

Synovial Membrane: a tissue that lines the joint and seals it into a joint capsule. The synovial membrane secretes synovial fluid (a clear, sticky fluid) around the joint to lubricate it.

Ligament: a type of tough, elastic connective tissue that surrounds the joint to give support and limits the joint's movement.

Tendon: a type of tough connective tissue that connects muscles to bones and helps to control movement of the joint.

Bursa: a fluid-filled sac located between bones, ligaments, or other adjacent structures that helps cushion joints.

Please note: this information is for informational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnosing an injury, and the information provided should not be used to replace medical treatment.