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Patients / Back In Motion / Hip

Hip

A short guide to your upcoming hip arthroplasty.

Hip image
If your hips hurt, you may be considering undergoing hip replacement surgery.
We'll explain how your hips work and why the joint may wear out over time. Of course, we’ll also explain how hip prosthetic implants are made and what happens during hip arthroplasty.

For more general information on joint replacement, visit our guide and FAQs section.
THE ANATOMY​ The hip is a ball-and-socket joint made up of two main bones: the femur and the pelvis. It is designed for stability, support, flexibility and strength.

The upper end of the femur, the femoral head, is spherical and fits into a cavity in the pelvis, called the acetabulum. The ligaments act in the joint to limit movements, while the muscles,　by inserting themselves in the small and large trochanter, join the bones. The joint is surrounded by a snug capsule which gives additional strength. Thanks to its flexibility and potency, the hip gives stability to the body and supports its load during all activities involving the legs.

Specific pathologies

Osteoarthritis​

This is an age-related pathology. It usually occurs in people of 50 years of age or older, but may occur in younger people, too. ​ The cartilage that cushions the bones wears away, the bones rub against each other and over time cause stiffness and pain.​Osteoarthritis may also be caused or accelerated by subtle irregularities in how the joint developed in childhood.

Rheumatoid Arthritis​

This disease consists of the inflammation and thickening of the synovial membrane that surrounds the joint. It is an autoimmune process that can damage the cartilage and cause its loss, pain,and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of a group of disorders named “inflammatory arthritis".

Post-traumatic Arthritis​

This disease follows serious joint injuries like fractures or muscle tears. Fractures in the bones that compose the joints may damage the articular cartilage over time, resulting in joint incongruency followed by the degeneration of the cartilage because of eccentric wear. This causes pain and limits joint functions.

Avascular Necrosis

Dislocation, fracture, or infraction of the femoral head due to trauma may damage the blood supply to the femoral head. This is called avascular necrosis. The surface of the femoral head therefore collapses and can result in joint incongruency and secondary osteoarthritis.

PROSTHETIC IMPLANT Hip replacements occur because the cartilage in the hip has worn away. The procedure consists of the removal of the damaged joint and its replacement with a prosthesis.

The femoral head implant consists of a metal or ceramic ball attached to a metal stem that fits into the femur. The fitting can be secured by using special cement. A plastic or ceramic liner, fitted into a metal socket, replaces the damaged acetabulum. This implant combination creates a new joint, designed to glide smoothly and painlessly.

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Gallery thumbnail image
Hip Implants can have different designs. Some implants feature special metal alloys, like our TT technology, to aid fixation. On the femoral side, the surgeon chooses the right type and size of the prosthetic stem. Important considerations include a patient’s wishes, their bone quality, and their age.
SYMPTOMS
There are several reasons why your doctor may recommend joint replacement surgery. If the symptoms below reflect what you feel, you should consider the decision to undergo such a procedure. Discuss the surgery with your family, your family physician, and your orthopedic surgeon.

Pain usually associated with osteoarthritis develops gradually. You may feel stiffness when you move, especially in the morning, after inactivity or intense activities.

People who benefit from surgery often have:
  • Severe joint pain that interferes with everyday activities, such as walking, running, dressing, toileting, washing or limits sports activities;
  • Moderate to severe pain while resting that can be severe enough to prevent a good night’s sleep;
  • Loss of range of motion of the joint and/or weakness in movement;
  • Failure to substantially improve with other treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, injections, physical therapy, or perhaps arthroscopic treatment.
Disclaimer
Limacorporate S.p.A., as a manufacturer of prosthetic implants, does not practice the medical profession. The choice of the most suitable surgical intervention and technique is necessarily the responsibility of the holy professional. Each surgeon will have to evaluate the appropriateness of the implant technique he intends to carry out in the light of his own preparation, experience and clinical evaluation of each individual patient.
Your orthopedic surgeon is responsible for all recommendations and decisions about your medical care if you and your surgeon decide that joint replacement is appropriate for you. The following information also does not provide a complete or full discussion of the specifics of joint replacement surgery; the prosthesis that may be used; your care before, during, and after surgery; or the potential complications associated with surgery and your particular condition. Depending upon your particular condition, some of the general information provided may not be applicable to you. You will need to discuss the specifics of your case with your surgeon. LimaCorporate does not guarantee any specific results, recovery or rehabilitation.
WARNING: Please remember the information on this document is for educational purposes only and should not be used to make a decision on a condition or a procedure. All decisions should be made in conjunction with your surgeon and your primary care provider.
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