Hip Joint Treatments & Surgery in Bangalore

What is a Hip Replacement?

Hip replacement surgery involves the replacement of your hip joint with a prosthetic implant (an artificial joint), which is a hip prosthesis. This procedure is often indicated to manage pain and improve function for individuals who are suffering from conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fractures, or other hip joint disorders. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia, during which the surgeon removes the damaged bone and cartilage from the hip socket (acetabulum) and the femoral head (ball) and replaces them with artificial implants. Read on to learn the types of hip replacements.

Anatomy of the Hip Explained

The hip joint is the biggest joint in the human body. It is a hip ball and socket joint, that is, it is like a ball that glides over the socket when one moves the hip, during activities such as walking or standing. Here, the ball is the head of the femur bone, and the socket is the acetabulum part of the hip.

• The hip joint consists of the femoral head as the ball and the acetabulum as the socket. The acetabulum is a part of the pelvis bone, whereas, the femoral head is the upper end of your thighbone or femur.
• To allow smooth gliding, the bones are surfaced with a smooth tissue, known as articular cartilage. This lets your hip joint function normally and allows you to walk without pain or discomfort.
• A thin tissue called synovial membrane is responsible for lubricating the cartilage from time to time, to allow the continuation of smooth functioning of this joint. This helps prevent friction during movement.
• Finally, ligaments (bands of tissues), called the hip capsule, connect the ball to the socket and retain the stability of the complete hip joint.