Hip Replacement Surgery

Problems such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and avascular necrosis can destroy the protective cartilage around the hip joint, disrupting the smooth contact between the femoral head (ball) and hip socket. This can cause you persistent pain, stiffness, difficulty walking and decreased quality of life.

If nonoperative treatment doesn't help, hip replacement surgery may be a good option for you. The main goal of this procedure is to reduce hip pain; it may also improve your hip function and reduce or eliminate a limp.

During the procedure, the surgeon removes the damaged cartilage along with some bone and replaces it with an artificial hip joint, or prosthesis. The prosthesis consists of two parts: a round ball (femoral head) that is attached via a stem to your femur; and the cup-like acetabular component (socket) placed in your pelvis.

RUSH orthopedic surgeons have pioneered minimally invasive hip replacement, which reduces your pain after surgery and enables you to leave the hospital shortly after the procedure.

We also offer Mako robotic-assisted total hip replacement surgery at several of our locations in and around Chicago. This procedure enables more accurate placement and alignment of hip implants and better replicates the feeling of a natural hip than traditional hip replacement. 

Do I Need Hip Replacement Surgery?

Not everyone with hip pain needs a hip replacement. But if your pain prevents you from doing everyday tasks or walking independently, hip replacement surgery can often help improve your quality of life.

These are some reasons why you might want to consider hip replacement surgery:

• You are experiencing severe hip pain or stiffness from osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis, avascular necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis.
• You have tried medication and other nonsurgical treatments, and they have not helped
• You do not have any major medical problems that would put you at greater risk for surgery
• Your primary care doctor or an orthopedic surgeon has told you that you have arthritis of your hip

Minimally Invasive Total Hip Replacement Surgery

At RUSH, hip replacement surgery can often be done through one small incision instead of a large incision. Your hip replacement surgeon will talk to you about which approach will give you the best results.

There are several potential advantages to minimally invasive total hip replacement, including the following:

• Minimal postoperative pain
• Shorter hospital stay
• Less trauma to the surrounding tissues
• Quicker recovery
• Less blood loss
• Less scarring
• Faster rehabilitation

Robotic-Assisted Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Some of our hip replacement surgeons offer robotic-assisted total hip replacement. The robotic system's 3D CT-based planning software helps your surgeon know more about your anatomy so they can create a personalized surgical plan for you. 

This personalization, coupled with real-time surgical guidance, enables your surgeon to remove bone, and place and align your implant more accurately.

Other potential benefits include the following:

• Less likelihood of surgical dislocation than with conventional hip replacement
• Reduced blood loss
• The artificial hip replicates the feeling of a natural hip

Revision Hip Replacement

In addition to standard hip replacement surgery, orthopedic surgeons at RUSH also perform repeat (or revision) hip replacement.

For a revision, the surgeon removes and replaces all or part of a previously inserted hip replacement. You may need this procedure for the following reasons:

• The artificial hip parts loosen from the bone
• Your hip comes out of the socket or dislocates
• Your hip becomes infected
• The artificial parts get very worn over time

RUSH Excellence in Hip Replacement Surgery

• Orthopedic excellence: U.S. News & World Report ranked RUSH University Medical Center in Chicago among the best in the nation orthopedics. RUSH Copley Medical Center in Aurora, IL was also recognized as high-performing for hip replacement.
• Experienced joint replacement surgeons: When it comes to hip replacement surgery, the experience of your surgeon can make a difference in how well you do after the procedure. RUSH hip replacement surgeons are among the most experienced in the world, having performed tens of thousands of hip replacements over the past three decades. We're able to draw from that experience to customize your procedure and make sure you get the best possible results.
• Continuum of care: Our team of physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists will help you recover from your procedure and put you back on the path toward an active life. Your rehab often begins in the hospital shortly after surgery and continues after you are discharged home.
• Multiple services at our RUSH locations: At our RUSH hospitals and many of our other locations in and around Chicago, you can get all of your hip replacement care in one convenient location. You can do your clinic visits, get your imaging tests, have your surgery and go through rehabilitation — all under one roof.
• Leaders on a national scale: Our hip replacement surgeons are among the nation's premier thought leaders and researchers. They have published thousands of papers, co-written and edited dozens of text books, and presented their research at conferences around the world. Our surgeons have also held leadership positions with a number of prestigious national organizations, including past presidents of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.