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If the non-surgical treatments no longer relieve pain and inflammation in your hip, you and your physician may consider total hip replacement. If you both decide that this is the best way to restore your ability to carry on your normal activities of daily life, the following information will be helpful for you to know.

The purpose of hip replacement surgery is to remove the two damaged and worn parts of the hip joint – the hip socket, acetabulum, and the ball, femoral head – and replace them with smooth, artificial implants called prostheses, which will help make the hip strong, stable and flexible again.

Bone cuts

Implant components

Implanted

The most recent and effective hip replacement technology

The implant

 

Hip implant components

Some questions you are probably thinking about are: what kind of implant device you will be receiving, what is it made of, and why is your surgeon using a particular kind of device? If you haven’t discussed this with your surgeon, you should, because not all hip implant devices are made of the same material.

Due to significant advancements in technology, there is a new material for hip implant devices called OXINIUM* Oxidized Zirconium that is a superior metal for use in hip implants. This is due to its hardness, smoothness and resistance to scratching and abrasion. It also exhibits superior performance characteristics over the alternative material options of cobalt chrome and ceramic. Ask your orthopaedic surgeon about OXINIUM and if it is the right implant option for you.

The hip implant is comprised of four parts that work together to restore the original function of your ball-and-socket joint:

• A metal hip stem that is inserted into the top of your thighbone
• A metal cup which holds the cup liner
• A cup liner which holds the femoral head
• The femoral head or ball which is attached to the hip stem and inserted into the liner to form the ball-and-socket joint

Hip implants are not one-size-fits-all, therefore your orthopaedic surgeon will choose the right hip implant for your body. Your surgeon will determine which design options will work best together to restore accurate leg length, while minimizing risks of dislocation and premature implant wear.

*Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Registered US Patent and Trademark Office.