Hip Replacement: When It Helps and What the Risks Are

Hip replacement is surgery for people with severe hip damage. The most common cause is osteoarthritis, which brings pain, swelling and reduced motion in the joints and can get in the way of daily activities.

When it's considered

If other treatments — physical therapy, pain medicines, exercise — haven't helped, hip replacement may be an option.

What happens

The surgeon removes damaged cartilage and bone from the hip joint and replaces them with new, man-made parts.

A hip replacement can:

• relieve pain;
• help the hip joint work better;
• improve walking and other movement.

Risks

• Dislocation is the most common problem afterward: a man-made hip is smaller than the original joint, so the ball can come out of its socket.
• Blood clots and infections.

Afterward you may need to avoid some activities, such as jogging and high-impact sports.

Sources

Based on "Hip Replacement," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, drawing on the NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; a work of the United States government in the public domain.