Components of a Hip Replacement

Total hip replacement is performed while you are under anesthesia. There are various types of anesthesia available and your surgeon will explain the options before your surgery. The diseased parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with implants.

The surgical procedure involves an incision through the skin and access to the hip joint through the muscles overlying the hip while 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 that goes down into the hollow part of the thighbone and may be pressed into place or cemented using a special acrylic cement. The hip socket is prepared by machining it (reaming) using special instruments to make it the right size and shape and a metallic shell is pressed into place and sometimes further secured with bone screws. A cup-shaped 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 tissues are repaired to finish the surgery.

The length of surgery may vary from approximately one to two hours. Care before surgery and time spent in the recovery room can add an additional one or two hours to the procedure.