What Is Hip Replacement Surgery?
Hip replacement surgery, or hip arthroplasty, replaces the damaged parts of the hip joint with artificial components built to move the way a healthy hip does. The femoral component sits inside the thigh bone; the acetabular component replaces the socket. Together, they’re designed to bring back smooth, pain-free movement once the joint has worn beyond what medication or therapy can manage.
Hip replacement, in its most common form, is carried out as a total hip replacement, addressing the entire joint rather than a single damaged section.
When Is Hip Replacement Surgery Needed?
Hip joint replacement becomes worth considering once non-surgical treatment, medication, physiotherapy, and activity adjustments stop offering meaningful relief. The most common underlying causes include:
Osteoarthritis, the gradual wearing away of cartilage cushioning the hip joint itself
Rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory condition that can erode cartilage and bone
Osteonecrosis, where interrupted blood supply to bone causes it to gradually collapse
Ongoing pain that worsens with walking, disrupts sleep, or limits everyday tasks like putting on shoes are typically the signals that prompt a specialist assessment for total hip replacement.
Total Hip Replacement Surgery
Total hip replacement is generally recommended once severe pain, stiffness, or disability from arthritis has meaningfully affected daily life, and non-surgical approaches haven’t given lasting relief.
A total hip replacement procedure is carried out under general anaesthesia or a spinal block. The surgeon accesses the joint, removes the damaged femoral head, prepares the socket for the new component, and fixes the prosthesis in place. Hip joint replacement surgery generally takes one to two hours, depending on how complex the individual case is.
Materials used in modern prostheses, metal alloys, ceramics, and durable synthetic polymers, are selected based on what best suits the patient’s anatomy and activity level.
What Happens During Hip Replacement Surgery?
Before surgery
Your surgeon evaluates hip mobility, pain patterns, and joint damage, usually confirmed with X-ray imaging, to determine whether total hip replacement is the right next step.
During surgery
The procedure generally involves:
- Accessing the joint through an incision over the hip
- Removing the damaged femoral head
- Preparing the socket and fixing the acetabular component
- Inserting and securing the new femoral component
After surgery
Blood-thinning medication and compression stockings are commonly used to lower the risk of blood clots during early recovery.
Recovery After Hip Replacement Surgery
Recovery unfolds over weeks and months rather than days. Initial hospital stays typically last a few days, with early mobilisation encouraged under physiotherapy guidance as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Your surgeon and physiotherapist will guide activity restrictions in the early weeks, gradually working toward full weight-bearing and normal movement. Full recovery and return to everyday activities can take several weeks to months, depending on individual progress and how closely the rehabilitation plan is followed.
Don’t let hip pain dictate your daily activity
Don’t wait it out
Who May Be Suitable for Hip Replacement Surgery?
An orthopaedic assessment determines whether hip joint replacement is the right next step. Suitability generally depends on:
- Severe hip pain or disability that limits normal daily activities
- Pain from progressive or degenerative arthritis affecting the hip
- Stiffness, weakness or reduced mobility in the affected hip joint
- Little relief from medication, physiotherapy or lifestyle changes
Each of these has its own dedicated page covering diagnosis and treatment in depth; this page focuses on how OrthofootMD approaches sports injury as a whole.
About Your Orthopaedic Specialist
Dr. Gowreeson Thevendran
MBChB (Bristol) · MRCS.Ed · Dip. Sports Med.Ed · FRCS.Ed (Trauma & Ortho.) · FAMS (Singapore)
Dr Gowreeson Thevendran is an orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore who specialises in lower limb orthopaedic conditions, including hip joint replacement, trauma, and fracture surgery. Before setting up his private practice, he served as Chief of Foot & Ankle Surgery in the Department of Orthopaedics at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and he continues today as a visiting consultant there.
Questions patients ask
FAQs
Is Hip Replacement a High-Risk Surgery?
It’s a major operation, but it isn’t considered high-risk. It’s generally recommended once other treatments, such as physiotherapy, haven’t given adequate relief.
What Are the Risks of Hip Replacement Surgery?
Risks can include infection, blood clots, bleeding, dislocation, nerve or blood vessel damage, joint stiffness, and, less commonly, prosthesis loosening. Thorough pre-operative evaluation and post-operative care help manage these risks.
At What Age Should You Get a Hip Replacement?
There’s no fixed age requirement. It’s typically considered based on how severe the pain and mobility loss are rather than age alone, though many patients undergoing the procedure are in their sixties to eighties.
Does Insurance and MediSave Cover Hip Replacement Surgery?
Coverage depends on the procedure and your policy. Patients should confirm MediSave eligibility and insurance coverage directly with the clinic and their insurer.
What Is the Difference Between Total and Partial Hip Replacement?
Total hip replacement addresses both the femoral and acetabular sides of the joint. Partial replacement treats damage limited to one component, an option considered in more limited or specific circumstances.
How Do I Know If I Need a Hip Replacement?
Ongoing hip pain that worsens with walking, disrupts sleep or limits everyday tasks, such as putting on shoes, is a common reason to seek an assessment. Hip replacement is usually considered once medication, physiotherapy and activity changes stop giving meaningful relief. An orthopaedic assessment and X-ray imaging confirm whether surgery suits you.
How Long Does Hip Replacement Surgery Take?
Hip replacement surgery generally takes one to two hours, depending on how complex the individual case is. It is carried out under general anaesthesia or a spinal block. The surgeon accesses the joint, removes the damaged femoral head, prepares the socket and fixes the new components in place.
How Long Does Recovery Take After Hip Replacement?
Recovery unfolds over weeks and months. Hospital stays typically last a few days, with early mobilisation under physiotherapy guidance as soon as it is safe. Full recovery and a return to everyday activities can take several weeks to months, depending on your progress and how closely you follow the rehabilitation plan.
Is Hip Pain Limiting Your Daily Life?
If hip pain is affecting your mobility, sleep, or independence, an orthopaedic assessment can help determine whether hip replacement surgery is the right path forward.