Hip replacement has increased dramatically with the ageing of the baby boom generation. Hip replacement is surgery only for people with severe hip failure. When you get a hip replacement, the surgeon removes damaged bone and cartage from your hip joint and replaces them with new, artificial parts. This procedure can relieve pain, help your hip work better, and improve your ability to walk and move around. Your doctor may recommend it if you have severe hip damage and extreme pain, and only if physical therapy, exercise and medicine don't help.  The goals of hip replacement surgery include increasing mobility, improving the function of the hip joint and relieving pain.

 
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, hip surgery is often recommended for people with hip joint damage that causes pain and interferes with daily activities. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of this type of damage. However, other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis (a chronic inflammatory disease that causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling) injury and bone tumors may also lead to breakdown of the hip joint and the need for hip replacement surgery.

A person’s overall health and activity level are more important than age in predicting a hip replacement’s success. Hip replacement may be problematic for people with some health problems, regardless of their age. For example, people who have chronic disorders such as Parkinson’s disease are more likely than people without chronic diseases to damage or dislocate an artificial hip. People who are at high risk for infections or who are in poor health are less likely to recover successfully. Recent studies suggest that people who elect to have surgery before advanced joint deterioration occurs tend to recover more easily and have better outcomes.

For the majority of people who have hip replacement surgery, the procedure results in;

• A decrease in pain
• Increased mobility
• Improvements in activities of daily living
• Improved quality of life.

Regardless of whether you have traditionally or minimally invasive surgery, the parts used to replace the joint are the same and come in two general varieties, cemented and uncemented.

Cemented parts are fasted to existing healthy bone with a special glue or cement. Hip replacement using these parts is referred to as a “cemented” procedure. Uncemented parts rely on a process called biologic fixation, which holds them in place. This means that the parts are made with a porous surface that allows your own bone to grow into the pores and hold the new parts in place. Sometimes a doctor will use a cemented femur part and uncemented acetabular part. This combination is known as a hybrid replacement. Cemented replacements are more frequently used for older, less active people with weak bones, such as those who have osteoporosis, while uncemented replacements are more frequently used for younger, more active people.

Before considering a total hip replacement, the doctor may try other methods of treatment, such as exercise, walking aids, and medication. An exercise program can strengthen the muscles around the hip joint. Walking aids such as canes and walkers may alleviate some of the stress from painful, damaged hips and help you to avoid or delay surgery.

Usually, people do not spend more than three to five days in the hospital after hip replacement surgery. Full recovery from from hip replacement surgery takes about three to six months, depending on the type of surgery, your overall health and the success of your rehabilitation.