Hip Replacement

Summary

Hip replacement is surgery for people with severe hip damage. The most common cause of damage is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis causes pain, swelling, and reduced motion in your joints. It can interfere with your daily activities. If other treatments such as physical therapy, pain medicines, and exercise haven’t helped, hip replacement surgery might be an option for you.

During a hip replacement operation, the surgeon removes damaged cartilage and bone from your hip joint and replaces them with new, man-made parts.

A hip replacement can:

• Relieve pain
• Help your hip joint work better
• Improve walking and other movements

The most common problem after surgery is hip dislocation. Because a man-made hip is smaller than the original joint, the ball can come out of its socket. The surgery can also cause blood clots and infections. With a hip replacement, you might need to avoid certain activities, such as jogging and high-impact sports.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Arthroplasty National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hip Replacement National Institutes of Health

Patient Handouts

• Deciding to have knee or hip replacement Medical Encyclopedia
• Getting your home ready – knee or hip surgery Medical Encyclopedia
• Hip arthroscopy Medical Encyclopedia
• Hip joint replacement Medical Encyclopedia
• Hip or knee replacement – after – what to ask your doctor Medical Encyclopedia
• Hip replacement – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Minimally invasive hip replacement Medical Encyclopedia
• Taking care of your new hip joint Medical Encyclopedia

Related Issues

• Deep Vein Thrombosis American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Fracture After Total Hip Replacement American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Find an Expert

• Find a Doctor in American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
• Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Specifics

• Hip Implant Systems Food and Drug Administration
• Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants: Information for Patients Food and Drug Administration

Images

• Hip joint replacement – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia

• Hip or knee replacement – before – what to ask your doctor Medical Encyclopedia

Living With

• Hip Rehabilitation Exercises American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Start Here

• Hip Replacement Surgery National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• Total Hip Replacement American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• Joint Replacement Surgery: What You Need to Know

Videos and Tutorials

• Preventing Blood Clots After Orthopaedic Surgery American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Journal Articles

• Hip Replacement