Hip replacement is a surgery to remove damaged sections of the hip joint and replace them. Replacement parts are usually made of metal, ceramic, and hard plastic. This artificial joint, called a prosthesis, helps reduce pain and improve function.
Hip replacement is also called total hip arthroplasty. Hip replacement might be an option if hip pain interferes with daily activities and nonsurgical treatments haven’t helped or are no longer effective. Arthritis damage is the most common reason to need a hip replacement.
Common Causes of Total Hip Arthroplasty Pain
The most common cause of chronic hip pain and disability is arthritis. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and posttraumatic arthritis are the most common forms of this disease.
Osteoarthritis
- This is an age-related wear-and-tear type of arthritis. It usually occurs in people 50 years of age and older, and often in individuals with a family history of arthritis. The cartilage cushioning the bones of the hip wears away. The bones then rub against each other, causing hip pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis may also be caused or accelerated by subtle irregularities in how the hip developed in childhood.
Rheumatoid arthritis
- This is an autoimmune disease in which the synovial membrane becomes inflamed and thickened. This chronic inflammation can damage the cartilage, leading to pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of a group of disorders termed inflammatory arthritis.
Posttraumatic arthritis
- This can follow a serious hip injury or fracture. The cartilage may become damaged and lead to hip pain and stiffness over time.
Osteonecrosis
- An injury to the hip, such as a dislocation or fracture, may limit the blood supply to the femoral head. This is called osteonecrosis (also sometimes referred to as avascular necrosis). The lack of blood may cause the surface of the bone to collapse, and arthritis will result.
Childhood hip disease.
- Some infants and children have hip problems. Even when doctors successfully treat hip problems during childhood, these issues may still lead to arthritis later in life. Abnormal hip growth can affect the joint surfaces and contribute to long-term damage.
The rising prevalence of total hip arthroplasty disorders may grow the hip replacement. Hip replacement surgery is increasingly becoming a requirement for patients as more people develop hip diseases. Demand for hip replacement implants increases as a direct consequence of this. Osteoarthritis is one of the more common total hip arthroplasty conditions in older adults.
The potential risk of nerve injury may slow down the hip replacement. The total hip arthroplasty implants may face major obstacles from the possibility of nerve damage, as it may influence patient choices, raise expenses and legal barriers, and draw attention away from hip replacements in favor of other options.
The improvement in hip replacement can be the ability to expand the hip replacement. Technological innovations can increase the quality and lifespan of implants. For younger patients and those with active lifestyles, this reduces the demand for revision surgeries, making hip replacement more attractive. Advances in surgery technology, like robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive surgery, can reduce recovery times, reduce issues, and enhance implant placement accuracy.
Latest Innovations and Key Developments
Device Launch
Polymotion® Hip Resurfacing Targets Active Patients
On April 01, 2025, JointMedica, a global leader in orthopedic innovation, announced the commencement of an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study for its Polymotion® Hip Resurfacing (PHR®) device. The IDE study aims to evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of the Polymotion® Hip Resurfacing System to address the challenges faced by younger, more active patients. Polymotion® Hip Resurfacing conserves bone by removing less of the femoral head than traditional hip replacement, reshaping it to accommodate a metal cap that mirrors the natural anatomy.
GYDER® Hip System Gains FDA Clearance for Non-Invasive Navigation
On February 03, 2025, Gyder Surgical, a MedTech company specializing in intuitive, orthopedic navigation solutions, announced the 510(k) FDA clearance for the GYDER® Hip System, the world’s first commercially available non-invasive (pin-less) and image-less solution for the accurate positioning of the acetabular cup during Anterior Hip Arthroplasty. The FDA’s clearance decision is the second significant regulatory milestone for the GYDER® Hip System, which received Australia’s TGA regulatory approval previously. Surgeons have already successfully performed surgical cases in Australia and India.
Lantern Hip Technology Achieves First Clinical Use
For instance, in December 2024, OrthAlign, Inc. announced a significant milestone with the successful first clinical use of its Lantern Hip handheld technology. Lantern Hip is the latest evolution in hip technology, built upon the success of over 375,000 OrthAlign procedures worldwide.
Zimmer Biomet Launches Z1™ Femoral Hip System
In October 2024, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., a global medical technology leader, announced plans for the broad commercial launch of the Z1™ Femoral Hip System (Z1 System) for total hip arthroplasty at the 2024 annual meeting of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). The highly anticipated Z1 Femoral Hip System, a triple-taper femoral system, pairs with the Company’s industry-leading G7® Acetabular System to provide surgeons with a versatile, streamlined, and efficient total hip arthroplasty solution.
FDA Clears Lantern Hip for Supine Anterior Approach
For instance, in October 2024, OrthAlign, Inc., a privately held medical device company, announced FDA 510(k) clearance of their Lantern Hip handheld technology for direct anterior total hip arthroplasty with the patient in the supine position. Lantern Hip is the latest addition to the Lantern platform, joining existing applications for total knee, revision knee, and partial knee arthroplasty.
Alkem MedTech Partners with Exactech for Indian Market
In August 2024, Alkem MedTech Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alkem Laboratories Limited, announced a significant milestone in its journey to revolutionize the medical device industry in India. The company has entered into a design and technology transfer agreement with Exactech Inc., a leading global medical device company headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, USA. With this groundbreaking partnership, Alkem MedTech aims to manufacture and market Exactech’s large joint replacement implants for sale in India.
NAVBIT SPRINT™ Navigation System Launches in Australia
For instance, in April 2024, Smith+Nephew, the global medical technology company, announced an agreement with NAVBIT to exclusively distribute the NAVBIT SPRINT™ in Australia during the recent Australian Orthopedics Association COE Meeting in Sydney.
Conclusion
Hip replacement surgery, or total hip arthroplasty, is a very successful procedure for pain relief and enhanced mobility in patients with advanced hip joint arthritis or other disabling hip disorders. The operation entails the replacement of the deteriorated or worn-out hip joint with an artificial implant, usually composed of metal, ceramic, or plastic. After surgery, the majority of patients are relieved from long-standing pain and experience improved quality of life, with many returning to daily activities and physical exercise. Recovery may last for a few months, with physical rehabilitation and a gradual return to normal activity. Hip replacement offers lasting pain relief and improved function for patients when other treatments have failed
