The Hip Joint
The Hip Joint
Articulation between the femur and the innominate bone. A ball and socket formed by the head of the femur, fitting into a concavity, the acetabulum.
Hip replacement is a common occurance amonst older clientelle and it is important to understand what a hip replacement involves. Hip joint replacement is surgery to replace all or part of the hip joint with an artificial joint, called a prosthesis.
An artificial hip joint has 4 parts:
A metal stem that is attached to the shaft of the bone to add stability to the joint.
A metal socket that replaces the original hip socket.
A plastic or ceramic liner that fits inside the socket, allowing the hip to move more smoothly.
A metal or ceramic ball that will replace the round head (top) of the thigh bone.