What is a hip replacement?
A hip replacement involves a surgical procedure to replace part or all of a diseased or
damaged hip joint with an artificial substitute—a prosthetic hip joint. The operation to replace
or mend a joint is known as 'arthroplasty'.
The aim of a hip replacement is to alleviate pain and restore function in the hip joint.

When is a hip replacement necessary?
A hip replacement may become necessary to prevent pain and increase mobility if your
hip joint is damaged as a result of disease or injury. The most common cause of hip replacements
is osteoarthritis, but the procedure may also be necessary for people with rheumatoid arthritis,
osteoporosis, bone tumours or a fractured femur (thigh bone).

Hip replacements may not be recommended for people who have a high likelihood of injury,
such as people with Parkinson’s disease or a significant weakness of the muscles.

What is the difference between standard hip replacement and resurfacing hip
  replacement?
The traditional treatment of a patient that required a hip replacement has been a stem-type
replacement. The decision to perform a hip resurfacing is determined by diagnosis, the age of
the patient, the patient’s level of activity and expectations. The resurfacing hip replacement
offers a long-term outcome for young and active patients while saving bone for later revision
when necessary. This conservative approach to hip replacement accounts for the popularity
of the procedure.

How is my new hip different?
You may feel some numbness in the skin around your incision. You also may feel some
stiffness, particularly with excessive bending. These differences often diminish with time and
most patients find these are minor compared to the pain and limited function they experienced
prior to surgery.

Your new hip may activate metal detectors required for security in airports and some buildings.
Tell the security agent about your hip replacement if the alarm is activated.

What is the length of expectancy of the resurfaced hip?
The average expectancy ranges from five to twenty years depending upon the activity level of
the patient.

What are the complications of Hip replacement surgery?
Any surgery has risks. There are many risks associated with Hip replacement surgery.
However, in the hands of a well-trained, dedicated orthopaedic surgeon, these risks should be
quite low.
The most common complication is blood clots in the legs. The most serious complication is
infection. The most important long-term complication is loosening.