Total hip replacement surgery replaces damaged parts of the hip joint with prosthetic (artificial) parts to restore hip movement. This surgery is one of the most common orthopaedics surgeries, with over 300,000 surgeries performed each year.

 
Anatomy of the Hip
The hip is a ball and socket joint. The ball at the top of the femur (thigh bone) sits in a cup-shaped socket (acetabulum) in the pelvis. It is surrounded by cartilage, muscles, and ligaments. The hip joint is capable of a wide range of motion and supports up to three times a person’s body weight when walking.

Common Causes of Hip Degeneration
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of hip degeneration. This condition causes the smooth cartilage on the ends of the bones to deteriorate due “wear and tear.” As the cartilage wears away, the bones rub against each other, resulting in pain and stiffness. Patients with severe hip arthritis have difficulty walking, with pain in the groin and thigh. As the hip joint continues to degenerate, it becomes extremely painful to move.

Avascular necrosis is another cause of hip degeneration. This condition is the result of a temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to the hipbone. Without blood circulation, the bone tissue dies and the bone collapses. Loss of blood supply can be caused by injury to the joint, or long-term corticosteroids. Excessive alcohol use can also be factor.

Other causes of hip degeneration include rheumatoid arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis, which occurs after an injury to the joint.

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