About Total Hip Replacement

Overview
This surgery replaces the diseased and damaged parts of the hip joint with specially designed “ball and socket” parts.

Step 1
After the thigh bone is separated from the hip socket, the surgeon cuts off the damaged ball from the thigh bone.

Step 2
The surgeon then removes the damaged cartilage and bone from the hip socket.

Step 3
A metal shell is pressed into the socket of the hip bone.  The shell may be held in with bone cement, or screws may be added.

Step 4
A special plastic liner is locked into the metal shell and the artificial socket is complete.

Step 5
Now the orthopaedic surgeon focuses on the thigh bone implant.  First, the end of the thigh bone is hollowed out.

Step 6
The metal implant is placed into the top of the thigh bone.  Bone cement may be used.

Step 7
The surgeon attaches a metal or ceramic ball component to the metal implant stem.  It will act like the leg’s original ball.

End of Procedure
The new ball and socket components are joined to form the new hip joint.