How does hip replacement surgery usually work?

Very well!: Seriously, hip replacement refers the procedure in which the "ball and socket" are replaced with a metal and plastic prosthesis. The surgery is done over 300, 000/year in the USA alone and the results are excellent. The recovery is relatively quick and the relief is almost immediate for many.

The basics: The worn down ball on the top of your femur gets removed. A shaping tool (broach) is passed down inside the top of the femur, preparing it to receive a metal wedge-like implant, the attachment site for a new smooth metal ball for the femur. The pelvis has a bony hole (the socket) that holds the ball & is re-shape to accept a metal and plastic socket for the new ball to smoothly rotate in.