The hip joint is described as being a “ball and socket” joint due to the joint’s appearance of a ball (femoral head) fitting snugly in a cup-like socket (acetabulum). The ball (femoral head) is located at the top of the thigh bone (femur) and the socket (acetabulum) is part of the pelvis. The area where the bones meet is covered by a slick but firm tissue called cartilage, allowing the joint to move smoothly.

As joint disease progresses, the bones begin to rub together causing a rough misshapen surface, sometimes resulting in bone-on-bone contact, producing pain and stiffness.

Hip replacement surgery removes the worn and arthritic areas of your hip joint and replaces those areas with an implant that helps restore a smooth joint surface.