Surgical approaches for inserting hemiarthroplasty of the hip.

The operation of insertion of a hemiarthroplasty to the hip refers to replacement of the femoral head with a prosthesis, whilst retaining the natural acetabulum and acetabular cartilage. The main surgical approaches to the hip for insertion of the prosthesis can be broadly categorised as either 'anterior' via the anterior joint capsule, or 'posterior' through the posterior joint capsule.