The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. Muscles, cartilage and ligaments surrounding the joint allow it to move smoothly and painlessly.
In the case of a problem hip, like those of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, the cartilage becomes worn out and can no longer serve its purpose as a cushion. Hence, when these bones rub against each other, you will experience excruciating pain and stiffness.
On the other hand, if you have sustained a fall and fractured your hip bone, you may need to fix it. Your surgeon can replace that problem hip with an artificial hip (prosthesis). With a new hip, you will be able to regain most of your independence and become active again.
An incision is made over the affected hip. All or parts of the joint surfaces are resurfaced with manmade materials. The implant (prosthesis) type may vary according to your needs but the most common implant consists of two components.
The femoral part has a stem that extends into a canal in your thigh bone. Depending on your condition, the femoral component may be secured by bone cement.
The acetabular component is placed inside your socket and consists of high-density polyethylene, which may be backed with a metal cup. This component may be fixed with or without cement.
