Hip Replacement

About the Hip

hip

Your hip joint is designed for both mobility and stability. The hip joint allows your entire lower extremity to move in three planes of motion:

Your hip joint provides vital shock absorption to the torso and upper body as well as stability during standing and other weight-bearing activities. Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint uniting two separate bones – the thighbone, or femur, and the pelvis. Your pelvis features two cup-shaped depressions called sockets or acetabulum. One is on either side of the body. Your thighbone is the longest bone in the body and connects into the pelvis at your hip joint. The head of the thighbone is shaped like a ball and fits tightly into the socket, forming the ball-and-socket joint of the hip.

Hip Replacement Procedure

When the hip joint has been worn down due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, injury, or other condition, hip replacement surgery can improve mobility by relieving pain and improving the function of the hip joint.

Hip replacement involves removal of the diseased bone and cartilage from the hip joint. The head of the femur and the acetabulum (socket) are then replaced with artificial parts or prosthesis. The new hip materials allow for natural motion of the hip joint.

The Orthopedic Surgeons at North Cypress Medical Center perform several different types of hip replacement procedures. You and your physician will determine which procedure is right for you. Click on the procedures below to learn about a few of that are offered.

Recovery and Rehabilitation

A patient may be able to sit on the edge of the bed, stand, and even walk with some assistance in as little as 1 to 2 days after surgery. Full recovery time depends upon the overall health of the patient, but typically can take 3 to 6 months.

The rehabilitation process begins while you are still at the hospital and continues on an outpatient basis once you return home. It is vital that you take an active role in the rehab process to get the most from your surgery.