Hip replacement
Also called: total hip arthroplasty, THA, hip implant
What it means
A hip replacement is surgery to remove a damaged hip joint and replace it with an artificial implant, often done for severe arthritis or after a serious hip fracture.
If you have weak bones, understanding hip replacement helps you make sense of options and recovery after a serious hip fracture or joint damage.
A hip replacement is a surgery where a surgeon removes the damaged ball-and-socket parts of the hip joint and replaces them with artificial components, usually made of metal, ceramic, or durable plastic. It's most often done because of severe osteoarthritis, but it's also a common treatment after a bad hip fracture, especially in older adults where the femoral neck or femoral head is badly broken.
After surgery, people typically work with physical therapy to regain strength and walking ability, often starting with a walker or crutches before moving to independent walking. Recovery timelines vary by age, overall health, and whether the surgery was planned or done urgently after a fracture. Your surgical team will guide weight-bearing status and activity restrictions during healing.
Like any major surgery, hip replacement carries risks, including infection, blood clots, and in rare cases, the implant loosening or needing revision surgery later. If you have osteoporosis or low bone density, your bone health care team may want to address that separately, since strong bone around the implant can matter for how well it holds over time. Decisions about timing, implant type, and follow-up care belong to your orthopedic surgeon and medical team.
Hip replacement swaps a damaged hip joint for an artificial implant, often after severe arthritis or a serious fracture.
Where this leads
WordA hip replacement can be full or partial. Wondering how a partial hip replacement differs and when it's used instead?
Related words
A hip fracture is a break at the femoral neck, the narrow part of bone connecting the hip joint ball to the thigh…
The femoral neck is the angled part of bone joining your hip ball to your thigh bone shaft, and it's the most common…
A partial hip replacement (hemiarthroplasty) is surgery that replaces only the ball (femoral head) of the hip joint…
Avascular necrosis is when part of a bone dies because it loses its blood supply, which can weaken and eventually…
ORIF stands for "open reduction internal fixation." It's a surgery where a surgeon repositions broken bone pieces…
Revision surgery is a repeat operation to replace or repair a previous joint implant, like a hip replacement, that…
Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
