Hip replacement is a surgical procedure in which the hip joint is replaced
by a prosthetic implant, that is, a hip prosthesis. Hip replacement
surgery can be performed as a total replacement or a hemi/semi(half)
replacement. Such joint replacement orthopaedic surgery is generally conducted
to relieve arthritis pain or in some hip fractures. A total hip replacement
(total hip arthroplasty) consists of replacing both the acetabulum and the
femoral head while hemiarthroplasty generally only replaces the femoral head.
Hip replacement is one of the most common orthopaedic operations, though
patient satisfaction varies widely between different techniques and implants.
Approximately 58% of total hip replacements are estimated to last 25 years.