Total Hip Replacement surgery is a procedure in which a doctor surgically removes a painful hip joint, which is diseased or injured, and replaces it with an artificial joint made from metal and plastic components or ceramic components. It usually is done when all other treatment options have failed to provide adequate pain relief. The procedure should relieve a painful hip joint, making walking easier.

There are many options a surgeon can use for the type of device that is right for you. Often the newer ceramic total hip replacement devices are used. They have a larger ball size than the old traditional small ball total hip replacement devices. The older small ball devices usually have more restrictions about what activities a patients can do since it is more likely to have a dislocation.

The older metal on metal large ball device used more recently are no longer used. Their advantage was the large ball size which made the hip very stable. Many people, however, have had metal ion problems with the devices and had to have revisions.

There are currently four types of total hip replacement devices available with different bearing surfaces. These are:

• Metal-on-Polyethylene: The ball is made of metal and the socket is made of plastic (polyethylene) or has a plastic lining.
• Ceramic-on-Polyethylene: The ball is made of ceramic and the socket is made of plastic (polyethylene) or has a plastic lining.
• Ceramic-on-Ceramic: The ball is made of ceramic and the socket has a ceramic lining.
• Ceramic-on-Metal: The ball is made of ceramic and the socket has a metal lining.

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