Total Hip Replacement Total hip replacement is indicated for the treatment of endstage arthritis of the hip.
Arthritis can result in pain, loss of motion and limited ability to walk.
A hip replacement removes the arthritis from the hip and replaces the ball and socket portion of the hip joint with a metal ball and a plastic socket. The metal is usually made from chrome or titanium and the plastic is made from polyethylene. In a cemented hip replacement, the metal and plastic portions of the joint are held to the bone with cement, which acts as a grout to hold the artificial components in place, allowing weight bearing and restoration of motion in the hip. The hip abductor muscles shown in the diagram are important in providing stability in the hip and are protected during the hip replacement surgery. The components can also be fixed to the bone without cement by ingrowth of bone into the rough surface of the prosthesis.