What is the difference between a hip replacement and total hip replacement?

They are the same: A total hip replacement involved putting in a cup fixed to the pelvis, and a stem with a ball on top, into the femur. This creates an artificial ball and socket joint. Other types of hip replacement include partial hip (same type of stem) with a large ball that articulates with the native socket in the pelvis, used often in hip fractures. Hip resurfacing is another form of hip replacement.