Restoring Comfort and Mobility to Your Problem Hip

Understanding Hip Replacement Surgery
When severe hip pain and stiffness limit your ability to walk, work, or do daily activities, it’s nice to know that surgery is available to restore normal, pain-free movement. Thanks to medical advancements, your orthopedic surgeon can relieve the discomfort of a problem hip with a total hip replacement. Total hip replacement is surgery to replace damaged or diseased parts of your hip with an artificial implant, or prosthesis. This procedure is a safe, reliable way to make hip movement comfortable again.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Hip Replacement?
Total hip replacement can benefit patients suffering from a variety of hip problems caused by disease, injury, or wear and tear from a lifetime of activity. It has helped patients suffering from:

• A disabling hip fracture or injury.
• Loss of blood supply to the hip.
• Bone diseases such as osteoarthritis (where cartilage covering the ends of bones wears away, causing them to grind together).

Not all problem hips need replacement surgery. Joint replacement is done only after your orthopedist has carefully diagnosed your hip problem and when other treatments have failed to improve your condition. In most cases, a program of exercise, physical therapy, walking aids, or medications is tried before surgery is considered.