Getting a New Hip

  • Replacing the ball and socket hip joint is a relatively new surgery the first routinely successful modern procedures were performed in the 1950's and 1960's. Now, more than 300,000 hip replacements are conducted each year in the US.
  • Most hip replacement candidates are between 60 and 80 years old, but barring other health conditions, there is no weight or age limit.
  • All our joints are cushioned by cartilage; when it becomes damaged or wears away, the absence of a cushion means pain from bone on bone contact. The hip is the largest joint in the body, the primary support of our body weight.
  • The hip joint can deteriorate for many reasons; the most common is the effect of osteoarthritis, where the cartilage that cushions the movement of our bones wears away.
  • Without that cushion, every movement of a joint becomes painful, even while resting, day or night. Being overweight also puts stress on the hip joints.
  • Some sports activities may mean harder wear and tear on hip joints, and hip replacement at an earlier age.
  • The pain may be dull and aching, or sharp. A worn-out hip joint may cause lower back or knee pain, too.
  • Replacing the hip joint means putting a new covering on the socket, located in the pelvis and creating a whole new version of the ball-shaped top of the femur that fits into the socket. A metal stem is inserted about six inches deep into the femur, with a ball, usually metal, anchored to its tip to complete the mechanism.
  • Hip replacement surgery may still mean restrictions on certain kinds of movement, like jogging or high-impact sports.
  • When properly cared for, a well-positioned hip replacement can last for 20 years or more.