The hip joint is a ball and socket joint formed by the pelvis and femur (thigh bone). The joint surfaces are covered by cartilage.

Certain conditions may indicate the need for a replacement for the hip joint such as: osteoarthritis (shown), persistent knee pain, severe loss of knee function, and certain types of fractures.

A replacement joint can help alleviate pain and improve function. The replacement joint usually has two parts that replace the joint surfaces and is made of a combination of metal and plastic.

Figure 1: Comparison of a normal hip joint and a replacement hip joint.
Figure 2: Normal hip joint.
Figure 3: A damaged hip joint.
Figure 4: Replacement hip joint.