Purpose of Hip Replacement Surgery

The main purpose of hip replacement surgery (a.k.a. hip arthroplasty) is to restore the integrity of the ball-and-socket joint between the thigh bone and pelvis, typically in patients with hip arthritis. The goals of this are to reduce persistent hip pain and/or disability that can occur when the hip is compromised.

Doctor reviewing hip imaging with patient
John Fedele / Getty Images

Diagnoses Related to Hip Replacement Surgery

The most common diagnosis for patients undergoing hip replacement surgery is osteoarthritis (OA). OA develops when the smooth cartilage that normally cushions the hip joint deteriorates. Over time, this deterioration leads to pain and loss of the hip's normal range of motion.

Besides osteoarthritis, other diagnoses that may warrant a hip replacement include:

This major operation, which involves removing damaged cartilage and bone and replacing it with prosthetics, is considered when multiple non-surgical therapies have been tried without success.

These often include:

Criteria

There are no formal criteria (including related to age or weight) for determining who is a proper candidate for a hip replacement.

Instead, surgery is a last resort option—one that is indicated when patients continue to have hip pain and/or difficulties performing activities of daily living despite trying various conservative treatments for several months or more.

More specifically, and from a more practical standpoint, you may be a candidate for a hip replacement if any of the following apply:

  • You have hip pain that keeps you awake or awakens you at night.
  • Hip pain limits your ability to get up from a chair, put on shoes and socks, climb stairs, or get in and out of a car.
  • The pain makes it less possible to engage in simple activities that give you pleasure, such as walking, shopping, or swimming.

As important as the above factors are, they are not the only ones that need to be taken into account when considering a hip replacement. While an often life-changing procedure in terms of comfort and quality of life, you and your surgeon will need to discuss the potential risks of the surgery in your case.

Additionally, your overall health, including any conditions that may contraindicate surgery (e.g., having an active infection or heart failure), will need to be considered.

Tests and Labs

Before undergoing hip replacement surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will perform a comprehensive evaluation.

This evaluation often includes:

  • A medical history: Your surgeon will review your symptoms (e.g., pain, stiffness, and level of functioning).
  • A physical examination: Your surgeon will thoroughly examine your hip, as well as your knees, spine, and pelvis. They will also check your pulse and perform a sensory nerve examination on your legs and feet.
  • Special tests: A leg length measurement and various tests, including the Trendelenburg sign (a test of whether one side of your pelvis drops when you stand on the opposite side's leg) and straight leg raise, will be performed.
  • Imaging tests: X-rays and sometimes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of your hip can help your surgeon understand the extent of damage present.

If your surgery is decided upon and scheduled, you will need to undergo several tests for medical and anesthesia clearance.

These tests often include:

A Word From Verywell

The maxim used to be that hip replacement surgery should only be pursued when you, as the patient, "cannot stand the pain anymore." Today, with advances in the procedure, the rationale may not be as relevant, but it does hint at how serious a decision to undergo this operation is.

If you and your surgeon decide that a hip replacement is a sensible next step in your care, please take your time discussing and understanding the possible risks of the surgery, as well as what your recovery and rehabilitation will entail.

7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Johns Hopkins. Hip Replacement.

  2. Erens GA, Walter B, Crowley M. Total hip arthroplasty. Hunter D, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate.

  3. Van de Velde SK, Loh B, Donnan L. Total hip arthroplasty in patients 16 years of age or younger. J Child Orthop. 2017 Dec 1; 11(6): 428–433. doi:10.1302/1863-2548.11.170085

  4. Sørensen MS, Gregersen KG, Grum-Schwensen T, Hovgaard D, and Petersen MM. Patient and implant survival following joint replacement because of metastatic bone disease: A cross-sectional study of 130 patients with 140 joint replacements. Acta Orthop. 2013 Jun; 84(3): 301–306. doi:10.3109/17453674.2013.788437

  5. American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. Total Hip Replacement.

  6. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Inflammatory Arthritis of the Hip.

  7. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Total Hip Replacement.

Additional Reading

By Jonathan Cluett, MD
Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams.