Hip Replacement

Hip replacement surgery is a treatment for pain and disability in the hip. 

The most common condition that results in the need for hip replacement surgery is osteoarthritis—characterized by the loss of joint cartilage in the hip. People with severe pain due to degenerative joint disease may be unable to do normal activities that involve bending at the hip, such as walking or sitting, because they are painful.

Other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis that results from a hip injury, can also lead to degeneration of the hip joint.

Some medical treatments for degenerative joint disease may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
• Pain medications
• Limiting painful activities
• Assistive devices for walking (such as a cane)
• Physical therapy

If medical treatments are not satisfactory at controlling pain due to arthritis, hip replacement surgery may be an effective treatment. The goal of hip replacement surgery is to replace the parts of the hip joint that have been damaged and to relieve hip pain that cannot be controlled by other treatments.