Hip joints that are damaged by injury or disease such as arthritis can cause extreme pain and make even everyday movements like walking or sitting difficult. Total hip replacement can relieve pain and restore range of motion so that you can return to a more active life.
During total hip arthroplasty (ARTH-ro-plas-tee), the diseased hip joint is removed and replaced with an artificial hip joint (prosthesis). The prosthesis is made up of a metal or ceramic ball component and a socket lined with plastic, ceramic or metal. These fit together in much the same way as a real hip joint and are designed to be accepted by your body and to resist corrosion and wear. After a period of physical rehabilitation, a hip replacement can relieve pain and restore range of motion so that you can return to an active life. Improved surgical approaches and techniques can get some patients back to work in two weeks.
Causes and treatments of hip pain
Surgical and nonsurgical options for hip pain