Choices for hipsters
Several types of hip replacements are available, and hip resurfacing has made a comeback.
The total hip replacement has become one of the most common and most successful operations performed in the United States, and perhaps the world. Over 200,000 hip replacements are performed on Americans each year, a number that may almost triple over the next couple of decades as baby boomers get older and their hips creakier. With this popularity has come choice in everything from the type of incisions (minimally invasive vs. conventional) to the material used in the new hip (metal, polyethylene, ceramic) to how the parts of the new hip are attached to the leftover bone.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.