Total Hip Arthroplasty

If you’re feeling pain or stiffness in your hip, you may have developed osteoarthritis. Sometimes called “wear-and-tear” arthritis, this condition is common among people over the age of 50.

You may be particularly prone to osteoarthritis if you have a family history, have had a previous hip injury, are obese, or suffer from a birth defect known as developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Your solution could be a hip replacement, or total hip arthroplasty. Before we discuss the details this procedure, let’s discuss the anatomy of your hip joint.

Your hip is actually one of the largest joints in your body. It’s a ball-and-socket joint, formed by the acetabulum, which is part of your pelvis. The top end of your femur, or thighbone, is called the femoral head. It’s the ball part of your hip joint.

There are several surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for you to treat osteoarthritis. If you go with total hip replacement, your doctor will remove your damaged acetabulum and femoral head, and then replace them with new metal, plastic, or ceramic joint surfaces. This should restore function to your hip.

Recovery times vary, and your doctor will advise you on the best plan for you.