Joint Replacement Surgery - Hip

Hip joint replacement surgery, also called total hip arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure that replaces the damaged ball and socket joint of the hip with an artificial prosthesis in an effort to reduce pain and restore motion. More than 200,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed each year in the U.S., with a very high success rate.

Destruction of the hip joint can result from a variety of causes, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis (infection) and trauma, among others. The damaged joint becomes stiff, painful and has a limited range of motion.

Lancaster Orthopedic Group provides state-of-the-art hip replacement services, including minimally invasive alternatives to the conventional posterior hip replacement approach:

Posterior Hip Replacement: This “traditional” total hip replacement procedure involves a surgical incision on the back of the hip, through which the surgeon removes damaged cartilage in the hip socket and replaces the ball and socket joint with a prosthetic joint.

Lateral Hip Replacement: In this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the side of the hip and then proceeds to replace the damaged joint with a prosthetic joint. This approach usually allows for a smaller incision than is required for the posterior hip replacement.

Anterior Hip Replacement: In the anterior approach, the surgeon is able to access and replace the damaged hip joint through a small incision in the front of the hip. This technique is considered minimally invasive because it may result in less trauma to the muscles and soft tissues.

Hip Resurfacing: In this procedure, more of the thigh bone (femur) is preserved by sculpting it instead of removing it, capping it with a metal prosthetic, and fitting the socket with a metal cup. Hip resurfacing can be an excellent alternative to traditional total hip replacement for young, active people who have good bone strength.

Schedule an evaluation with your Lancaster Orthopedic Group hip specialist to learn more about the options for hip joint replacement surgery.